Travel Blog

Travel Blog, Travel Website, This is the travel blog like no other.

Learn all about European travel blog tips, all in an easy-to-read format.

You will enjoy reading about must-see sites as well as the best travel gifts, island travel, packing light to Europe, tips for staying healthy while traveling, must-try foods from around the world, Mediterranean cruises, travel essentials, and more.

European Travel Blog

When you are planning your European holiday, there's much to consider and to plan for.

One of your deciding factors, and there are several, is how long will you be traveling throughout Europe?

Others include, What is your budget?

Another, What month or season are you going to Europe?

It's important to consider if you want to visit many different places or spend longer amounts of time in a few areas.

Once you can answer these questions, you can begin planning what is sure to be a memorable European holiday.

Applying for a Visa Waiver – The Electronic System for Travel Authorization, also known as the ESTA is a simple and easy requirement that helps you in obtaining your travel clearance for visiting the United States.

This authorization is applicable for the citizens of the participating countries that meet the predetermined qualifications for availing the Visa Waiver Program.

The process is carried out through an online application which has replaced the tedious method of applying for tourist visa in the United States.

Initially, an application for US Visa was absolutely necessary for visiting the United States.

Check the status of your current application- In case you need to check the current status of your application, the professionals here will provide you with a quick and easy update.

Simply submit a request with the contact form, and the representatives will immediately update you about the status on your registered email address.

Request for additional information

If you’ve inadvertently missed out on some additional information about ESTA, then too you can submit your request with the contact form.

The representatives will then find out about the relevant information on your behalf, and update you about the same right away.

In addition to requesting for more information, you can also add your comments and questions via the contact form.

Modify your submitted information

Unlike any other platform, ESTA USA gives you the added advantage of modifying the information you’ve submitted on the application form.

Users can click on the contact us’ tab for expressing their concern on the specific modifications.

Representatives will then address their request and further ensure that the modifications are carried out at the earliest.

ESTA Learning Center

The website of this program comes with an entire page dedicated for individuals who are applying for ESTA for the first time.

This page is a resource center that gives you a complete insight on the basics and specifics of the ESTA program.

Here, you’ll get to know the difference between travel authorization and admission, Visa and ESTA, history of the program, the countries eligible for the program, its working mechanism, ESTA denial, ESTA processing time, outcomes of the program, application with multiple passports and so on.

In addition to this, you’ll also find all the relevant information about using this travel permit and correcting your existing application.

The FAQ section of the learning center addresses and answers every question about the procedure.

In case of additional questions, you can always reach out to the customer care section, where the representatives clarify all of your doubts about the overall process.

Access to the newsfeed

The ESTA USA program also lets you access their live news feed that features the blogs of fellow applications.

Here, you can find the latest insights and news about the ESTA program.

Whether it’s an update on whether Israel will enter the Visa Waiver program or the insight from a fellow blogger about the need of having the ESTA even if you have a layover in the US- you’ll find every, relevant news in this section.

Benefits of the ESTA USA program

The agents at ESTA USA offer many other benefits than merely processing your ESTA application.

The representatives here personally review every individual application and check for the errors in it.

In case of an error, they will immediately rectify it and inform you about the same.

Having processed thousands of applications, they have the necessary experience in figuring out what exactly to check.

The agents here are highly trained in the Visa Waiver Program and they will directly communicate with you about the status and modifications of your current application.

Like I already mentioned, in case of errors they will immediately omit it prior to the submission.

The professionals here strive to ensure that your travel authorization is approved.

However, in case it isn’t approved, you will be eligible to issue a full refund.

Following is a list of some additional benefits of the ESTA USA program:

Agents are readily available for addressing and answering your questions.

If you need your application to be processed faster, the professionals here will expedite the process.

Every submitted application is carefully checked and reviewed for errors.

You will be notified in case of errors and will have full scope in modifying your application.

The customer support center will address you queries and respond to them right away.

The application approval rate here is more than 95%.

You will be eligible for a 100% guaranteed refund if your application is denied.

ESTA USA program has been operating since the last couple of years, and during this time it has managed to establish itself as one of the pioneers in the industry.

The program is widely lauded by applicants for its simple, easy, hassle free and affordable process.

Golf Around the World – Have you ever dreamed of traveling the world to play at the best golf courses available? Imagine the stories you could share with your local golfing friends about your adventures! Whether you decide to do it all at once or break it up over several years, here are some top golf courses to visit.

Around the World in 18 Holes

Around the World in 18 Holes

Singapore

Singapore is a hectic and busy city, it’s hard to believe you could ease into a golf experience that would be exciting and relaxing.

Companies like golfscape offer a wide variety of courses in a variety of countries.

Consider Investing To Grow Your Nest Egg

Another thing you can do to boost your overall income is start investing your money.

You may have to start small, but that is easy to do now with online brokerages which allow you to trade stocks, currencies and other financial instruments even with a low minimum deposit of just a few hundred dollars.

It does take time to grow your investments, but once you do, you will have far more funds available for travel—and a lot more financial security overall.

Think About Getting a Travel Credit Card

Another excellent way to save money on travel is to get a travel credit card.

This is a type of rewards card and travel credit cards which allows you to earn points that are redeemable for accommodations, airfare and other travel-related expenses.

For that reason, if you are thinking about getting one, you should definitely start out by doing your research.

This will help you to find a card with the friendly terms you need to maximize your savings.

Find Ways to Make Extra Money

If you have cut down your expenses as far as possible and you still do not have enough money to travel, it is time to look at your income and see what you might be able to do there to improve your situation.

It is quite challenging to boost your income since it’s not always as easy as just asking your boss for a pay raise (though sometimes it is).

But you will find that there are surprisingly many opportunities to earn some extras cash cash on the side.

In fact, here is a list of more than 60 ways you can potentially supplement your income right now.

You might also what to get a business logo if you are going to start a travel blog, here are our business logo hacks.

Remember, even though a lot of side jobs may only pay you sporadically, you do not necessarily need a lot to finance a short trip now and again—just a few hundred or thousand extra dollars over the course of a year.

Keep in mind even just $20 a week adds up to over a thousand dollars within a year.

Rent Instead of Buying

You are finally going on that fantastic trip and need certain equipment… maybe a camera or a bicycle?

Travel Nearby

The thought of travelling halfway around the world may be exciting, but what would you rather do—one international trip every few years, or perhaps several vacations per year within a close geographic area?

If you travel near where you live, you can save a lot of money, potentially allowing you to hit the road more often.

And you can enjoy some of the incredible experiences you will find in your own area.

Travelling on a Tight Budget is Challenging, But Not Impossible

When you have big dreams of travel but no way to achieve them with your current income and expenses, it is easy to feel frustrated. It is way too tempting to give up.

But there is no need to give up, because travel may be possible for you even with a low income.

All of these methods combined could give you what you need to start travelling the world sooner than you think!

Quitting Your Job to Travel the World

Quitting Your Job to Travel the World, most of us at some point have gazed out of the window at work onto another grey and dreary day, and wondered what it would be like to spend our lives traveling through exotic locations and soaking up the sun on the beach.

With bills to pay and lifestyles to fund, for most of us it remains a dream.

But what if you could have both?

Here we take a look at some innovative ways to make a living travelling the world, and some of the people who’ve made a success of it.

Show and Tell (and Sell)

Seven years ago, Gareth Leonard had a comfortable, $50,000-a-year marketing job, but at age 25, he wasn’t fulfilled and knew office life wasn’t for him.

He quit his job and bought a one-way ticket to Argentina, where he worked as a bartender and set up a website to share his stories with his family back home while he waited to come up with a business idea.

However, his business was already growing.

By the time he moved on to Colombia, his blog posts were attracting far more attention than just that of his family, and he started getting offers from brands and advertisers wanting sponsored posts and reviews.

Today, through his travel blog Tourist2Townie, Leonard makes his living by sharing his stories of living in different communities throughout the world, including Brazil, Australia and Thailand.

He works with major brands and even tourist boards, and makes more money than he did in the “safe” job he quit, calling his experience “the most exciting thing in the world”.

Examples of earning a living while traveling

Matthew Karsten wasn’t even in such a fortunate position before he began his travels.

In 2009 he realized he wanted to travel the world, inspired by two friends who were doing just that incredibly cheaply.

Sick of having to work two jobs to make ends meet, Matthew started formulating a plan to fund his travels.

He sold his car, cancelled his gym membership and stopped going out to bars and restaurants.

Within a year he’d saved $7,000, as well as making up to $2,000 a month from researching and writing how-to guides which he sold online, funding his trip to Guatemala.

He then put his writing skills to good use by developing a travel blog and offering companies he admired long-term content partnerships.

In addition, he licenses the photographs he takes on his travels for commercial use; they’ve been bought by tourist boards, holiday companies and even the National Geographic.

Matthew’s blog has become so popular that some countries have paid him to visit and write about his time there.

He now makes six figures a year.

“I still travel the world on a budget,” he says, “but I’m also able to save money.

Or splurge on the occasional expensive experience.”

Become a House Sitter

Canadian couple Dalene and Pete Heck had safe corporate jobs and a comfortable house in the suburbs when in 2007 a series of personal tragedies led them to realize there was more to life, and they were determined to discover it.

Since 2009 they have perpetually traveled the world as professional house sitters, a career that has allowed them to experience life and get to know the locals in a huge variety of locations including Bolivia, Greenland and the Sahara Desert.

They have no regrets about switching their sizable home for a suitcase.

As Dalene says, “We went from scraping the bottom of life’s deepest hole to blowing the roof off the top.

And we have no plans to slow down.

This life is too good.”

Trade on the Stock Market

It’s not a career choice for the faint-hearted, but it’s worked for Marcello Arrambide, who quit his job in 2009 to travel the world working as a day trader on the stock market via phone and internet.

Since then he has visited over 80 countries across all seven continents, and his career not only funds his travels but also earns him a healthy income.

“I consider myself the luckiest person in the world to have complete freedom,” he says. “Location freedom, time freedom and financial freedom.”

Take a Workation

If you want the best of both worlds, and your job is mainly phone and computer based, why not transfer it to another part of the world every once in awhile?

It works for independent entrepreneur Vanessa Van Edwards and her husband, a marketing manager.

They started asking themselves why they were tied to the same office every day when modern technology allows them to do their jobs from anywhere in the world?

Vanessa explains, “We set out to find a way to develop our careers while travelling the world – and without breaking the bank.”

Armed with their laptops and mobile phones, they set off for their first “workstation”, and today they have taken their virtual office to 24 different locations around the world.

How to Travel a Lot by Teaching English

Travel A Lot By Teaching English: A lot of people ask how I travel so much, and I don’t really have ONE answer, as I’ve gone through many different venues to do it — the military, volunteering, studying abroad and now teaching English.

Matt has been teaching English abroad himself and knows all about the frustrations and confusion people feel about these courses.

From his own experiences, and a whole lot of research, he has compiled it all into this e-book – to save you the hassle!

With over 100 pages crammed with detailed information, he takes you through every step and everything you need to know about teaching English abroad.

The information is straight forward, and, in contrary to much of the information you find searching official websites: HONEST!

If you were to try and research all this information on your own, you would have a hard time reading between the lines as the programs and jobs you find all want YOU to choose them.

It’s much easier getting the truth from someone who doesn’t benefit from the company you choose, which makes this book very trustworthy, as Matt talks about both the ups and downs of each company, program and types of jobs, includes hidden costs like taxes and things that are not included in some jobs but are in others.

The book explains what it takes to become an English teacher and teach English overseas, the differences between the different courses and jobs, plus, what everyone really wants to know: the benefits and salaries offered.

Moreover, the book gets right into the details and includes detailed information about the most frequented chosen destinations for English teachers as well as some other good ones that are not so popular.

In these country information pages, you even find out the cost of living in these places (which are from my own experience accurate), so you can get a better idea of which countries suit you, and whether you can afford to teach English overseas with the salary you will get or not.

So if you want to know everything about teaching English abroad, save yourself hours of research and avoid tearing your hair off in the progress, this book is for you.

When Traveling Cheap Is A Good Word

The word “cheap” can have many meanings – very often, the word is just a synonym for “crap quality”.

Nobody, really, wants a cheap car.

Telling someone else that their car is “good value” is not a good compliment!

In a time of soaring airline ticket prices and those annoying fees plus the ever-increasing price of fuel, finding low-priced travel options can often mean the difference between having a holiday – or not having one.

A recent Consumer Reports survey found that 40% of respondents are flying less as a result of increased fees.

Fortunately, there are ways to get around this, ways to avoid the peak prices and ways to actually make the travel work in your favor.

Most people have their holidays at the same time, and therefore travel at the same time.

This is the ultimate time for airlines to raise their prices, since they know they can fill the seats up easily.

Who wants to break the Christmas tradition of always celebrating with the family?

Get sponsored: A funding Guide for Explorers, Adventurers, and would-be World Travelers

Each month there are hundreds upon hundreds of people engaged in raising money to go on adventurous trips of world class level.

From Earth’s highest peak Mt. Everest to southernmost continent Antarctica, people head for all kinds of adventurous destinations.

But how do people raise that much money to pay for their travel expenses?

It is indeed a mind-boggler but you don’t need to worry anymore as this book provides you a chance to fulfill your dream by raising money for your travels.

Jeff Blumenfeld’s “Get sponsored:

A funding Guide for Explorers, Adventurers, and would-be World Travelers” reveals all the techniques you will require to raise money and get some sponsors too in the way.

Author Jeff Blumenfeld has worked in adventure marketing and is a specialist when it comes to getting the funds you need to go on that death defying mountain climb.

Jeff has represented many top of the line companies such as Land’s End, Orvis, 3M, Coleman and Du Pont.

Furthermore, Jeff Blumenfeld is also the editor of ExpeditionNew.com and a member of The Explorers Club and the Royal Geographical Society.

Over the past 40 years, Jeff has actively taken part in various expeditions like dogsled expeditions in the North Pole, travelling across Antarctica, going through the Bering Strait and an amazing 1,152 mile sea voyage alone.

Jeff says, “Is it easy to get someone to pay for your dream trip?

No, not at all, but with the right idea and proper advance preparation, it is possible to raise thousands of dollars in cash and in-kind products and services for worthy endurance projects.”

Get sponsored

One of the chapters of the book emphasizes where people can get thousands of dollars worth of grants and sponsors such as Rolex, Polartec, National Geographic, W.L. Gore & Associates, and Land Rover.

The entire book unravels Jeff’s 40-year old adventure marketing career and how he links major corporations such as The Coleman Company, 3M, Du Pont and Land’s End with different explorers and adventurers from around the globe. Top Reasons to Travel Alone

“Get sponsored: A funding Guide for Explorers, Adventurers, and would-be World Travelers” is the only book out there which intricately explains and goes behind the scenes of iconic, inspiring and historical contemporary adventures.

Moreover it also explains in details how anybody who has a dream to encounter something remarkable can fund their own extreme escapades.

After reading the book you’ll realize how it expertly guides you to negotiate with different companies to fund your trips.

Jeff also provides great advice different factors influencing your sponsor’s decision, for example how to take photos that will excite your sponsors.

The book guides you on how to impress your sponsors and bring them in for the long haul.

Jeff also suggests that you to search for adventure schools that can teach you the fundamentals and skills needed to go on extended adventures…Antarctica Cruise Tips

Cool Volunteer Destinations

There is no feeling more satisfying than knowing that the time and work you are selflessly putting into a project is going to improve the lives of others, and that your efforts will be appreciated for ages to come.

If you combine the high of volunteerism with the thrill of an exotic location, both traveler and global citizen will be dancing a happy jig- and there’s no better feeling than that.

By taking your volunteer hours out of the local library and investing them in an off-the-travel-radar country, the effects of your involvement will shine all the brighter.

Whether it’s restoration work on a vampire’s castle or cassava harvests, the experience will be life-changing and the rewards eternal.

Pick the country that catches your breath, chose a line of work that makes your heart beat faster, and embark on a positive adventure with your next volunteer placement in one of these overlooked locations:

Cuba

Historic Cars Cuba

Between slave rebellions, the Cold War, and the current communist regime, life in Cuba hasn’t just been sandy beaches and piña coladas (although there is no shortage of either).

There is a need for teachers and green thumbs, both of which can enjoy the fascinating backdrop of history and culture of this island.

Take a long volunteer vacation in one of the most intriguing and unique countries in the Caribbean.

Prevalently placed in the urban centers, education opportunities form a major part of volunteering programs in Cuba.

Whether it is to teach English or expose citizens to international viewpoints, volunteers are needed to bring the best of the world into this island nation.

cultural awareness and facilitate communications, while making friends and joining in on a couple of salsa classes.

With an increasing tourist industry, land and animal conservation projects are on the rise.

In the midst of sugar cane plantations, among tobacco fields, or along the coast, the current question of ecological work is torn between preservation and increasing revenue.

The issue of sustainability is also growing, with most efforts needed alongside small, local farmers who provide the food necessary to keep this self-sustainable country fed and running.

Bolivia

Landlocked and rugged, Bolivia’s inadequate infrastructure leads to no shortage of great volunteering opportunities.

It also has no lack of attractions to amuse when not working:

the tranquil vastness of Lake Titicaca, the mirrored magic of the Uyuni Salt Flats, the colorful parades at the Ororu Festival, “Death Road” and the hospitality of its indigenous people- many of them with two long braids and a bowler hat on top.

Like in most Latin American countries, there has been an increase in the rural-urban migration rate in recent years.

This leads to a variety of problems, such as overcrowding, a lack of services to its people, and the negative effects of slums on the environment.

Jump into the heart of this growing epidemic with an English teaching position, where you will be able to inspire future leaders with effective land management ideas and make that dream a reality with the language skills required for global cooperation.

If you’re not into playtime with kiddos, lend a helping hand at a hospital or with administration work at the many under-staffed health care centers.

Both La Paz and Sucre offer plenty of opportunities in either field, and will reward you with national parks, cultural festivals, unique museums, and cafes catering to internationals.

Between volunteer assignments, explore the wealth of culture that Romania will present you with in return:

churches built out of bones, the largest rock sculpture in Europe (it’s 55 meters high, dedicated to the last king of Dacia, and can only be reached by boat), and the happiest cemetery in the world.

With long years of seclusion behind the Iron Curtain, Romania is still combating challenges of geographic and mental isolation.

Helping out in an orphanage is a common volunteering placement in Romania, and the children will be quick to steal your heart with their hands sticky from papnasi.

Likewise, community development is a volunteer hot spot, with plenty of infrastructure that could use your help.

If you prefer nature to people, Romania will keep you on your toes while you put your hands to work.

Historic preservation and animal conservation are calling your name; there are more than 7 UNESCO sights and more than half of Europe’s black bear population in Romania.

Cameroon

Also known as “Little Africa,” Cameroon is a microcosm of the continent, bustling with life, smells, and colors.

Gang up with pygmies as you participate in a tug-of-war competition or go canoe racing, then pound your feet to the rhythm of makossa.

During the day, make Cameroon a better place by volunteering in a number of possible projects, while continuing your cultural (and culinary) explorations.

With agriculture accounting for a large part of its economy, Cameroon never has too many hands working in the fields.

Become a part of coffee, cocoa, yam, or banana harvests (yum!), and help with rural innovations as this fertile country is put to good use.

If you prefer mammals to cotton balls, volunteer with a wildlife conservation project.

Having some of the most diverse flora and fauna of Africa, you can take part of anything from counting butterflies in rain forests to monkeying around with chimpanzees.

With seven national parks, you can document, preserve, and multiply current species to your heart’s delight.

Youth development opportunities are available in both urban and rural areas; your presence will have a lasting impact in both settings.

Children need positive mentors to teach fresh mentalities, inspire new problem-solving strategies, or simply offer a good heart-to-heart conversation.

Learn while you teach, and gain while you give, with a camp or youth counseling placement.

If the above list didn’t satisfy your volunteer cravings, check out these 12 other great volunteering opportunities abroad.

From voodoo and reggaeton to moose and maple syrup, there’s bound to be something just for you.

Regardless of where you end up, and in which field you find yourself working in, you will be able to combine some good ol’ philanthropy with fascinating landscapes, memorable people, and a new stamp in your passport.

Hop on the volunteering train with the license plate that most sticks out at you!

Start planning your next trip

Hop online, work on your bucket list, research new locations or start working on a saving’s plan.

Start planning your next trip

Sometimes it’s difficult getting back into a routine after traveling.

Setting new goals and focusing on new experiences will quickly get you in the mood for traveling again.

Simple Ways To Avoid Jet lag Without Drugs

Jet lag is a problem that a lot of travelers have to deal with when crossing multiple time zones—it disrupts the natural circadian rhythm and messes up the natural sleeping and eating schedules.

Common issues one experiences when having jet lag is sleepiness and lethargy during the day, irritability, fatigue, indigestion and constipation, loss of focus and concentration, and insomnia.

A common misconception among people is that jet lag is unavoidable, but actually there are simple ways to avoid jet lag that are also effective.

While a lot of travelers do rely on sleeping pills and melatonin supplements to get by during flights, there are ways to avoid it without any drugs.

A lot of doctors don’t recommend the use of sleeping pills, especially if you have not tested its effects on you at home first.

These methods are healthier, won’t give you any unpleasant side effects, and worth considering to help you avoid unpleasant jet lag symptoms.

Simple Ways To Avoid Jet Lag Without Drugs

The worst jet lag I’ve ever had was going from London to New Zealand, a 36 hour flight east.

Now what does it matter that it was a flight going east?

A huge matter, it makes almost all the difference between severe jet lag and no jet lag – although we didn’t know that back then.

We could choose to go either west via Los Angeles, or east via Hong Kong.

The one going east was cheaper and shorter, so we chose that one.

If we would have gone west our experience with jet lag would most likely have been different.

Jet lag tends to be a problem if four or more time zones are crossed, and the effects are generally worse travelling eastwards than westwards.

This is because the body copes better with a lengthening day than a shortening day.

Natural Ways To Avoid Jet lag

Prepare your body clock days before your departure

Adjust your sleeping schedule for each day a few hours more and more in the days leading up to your departure.

This will help you ease into your natural sleep cycle once you land. Adjust your meal schedules as well.

Choose your flight arrival wisely

It’s best to arrive at your destination in the morning or in the afternoon, because this is the best time of day that can help you adjust to your new schedule.

Opt for overnight flights as well. Travel – A Little At A Time – Make stopovers on your way.

Stay for a while in Hong Kong before continuing, this makes it both easier to cope with jet lag as well as long flights.

I’d actually prefer a 15 hour flight, a few nights in a cool city, and then another 15 hours.

It’s more fun that way as well.

Keep yourself hydrated

It’s easy to lose sight of your water intake when dealing with the stress of traveling.

During long flights, it’s important you stay hydrated by drinking a couple of ounces of water, at least 8 ounces for each hour.

Don’t wait to get thirsty, and just keep the flow going.

This will help your body adjust.

Drink But Stay Sober

Jetlag effects are also generally made worse by dehydration, caffeine and alcohol, which put stress on the body and increase fatigue.

Have you ever seen really drunk people and found it weird that they got so drunk only by a few of those tiny ‘plane-sized’ bottles?

When flying, it takes a lot less to get drunk.

Having one glass of wine on a flight is the same as having two glasses on land.

So keep hydrated, but with non-alcoholic drinks.

Simple Ways To Avoid Jetlag

Keep your skin and eyes moisturized

The dry cabin air can also affect your skin, so it’s important to moisturize while on the plane.

Pack with you some moisturizing facial wipes, or a facial hydrating spray so you can regularly spritz yourself every hour on board.

To prevent dry eyes, eye drops will also help give you more comfort.

Move your body

Don’t be too shy to stand up and get some body stretches.

Moving your body is essential during long flights.

Rotate your ankles every now and then, and stretch your legs and arms.

Try to get a short walk every now and then inside the cabin to stimulate blood flow and avoid deep vein thrombosis (blood clots).

Avoid caffeine and alcohol

Coffee, sodas, alcohol and energy drinks should be highly avoided.

These drinks will only make your body feel worse, as the caffeine will hinder you from getting the proper rest you need before you get off on the plane.

Eat wisely

It’s best to eat high-fiber, nutritious food while in flight, such as nuts and granola bars, so you can avoid constipation when you reach your destination.

Avoid foods that can give you gas.

Do eat at the right time too, according to the mealtime of the time zone of your destination.

This helps your appetite adjust easier.

Set your clock to your destination’s time zone

While on the plane, you should adjust your phone and your watch clocks to reflect that of your destination.

This helps you determine what to do when you’re in flight (for sleeping and mealtimes), because you will want to follow the time there while you’re on the plane already.

This also puts you in the right mindset already, and prevents the feeling of confusion and irritability once you get on land, because you already know what to expect based on the time of day it is there.

Get some rest on the plane

Earphones, earplugs, sleeping masks, pillows and blankets will make you feel more comfortable on the flight, and having plenty of rest while on the plane will reduce your fatigue once you land.

Consider bringing your own neck pillow as well, so you’ll be able to get a better quality of sleep on board.

However, it’s ideal if you follow the sleep schedule of your destination whilst on the plane.

For long flights across multiple time zones, train your body and sleep when it’s time for sleeping.

Sit In The Middle Of The Plane

I hope you find some of these natural prevention to be helpful and that you can implement these simple tips on your next overseas trip.

Use an eye mask and ear plugs

These will not only make you sleep more soundly, but also it will prevent you from experiencing tinnitus (ringing in your ears) after the flight.

Once you land, it is of utmost importance that you try to follow the schedule of your new time zone.

Here are more ways to help you prevent symptoms of jet lag from creeping in.

Get some sun and get busy

Upon landing, it’s best to go out in the outdoors the sooner you can, because the sun will definitely communicate to your body.

It will help you stay awake if you should be sleeping at that time in your home country.

The sun’s rays will help in resetting your body clock as well.

Doing some light exercises such as walking or jogging will also help your body feel better.

Eat on schedule

Even if you don’t feel hungry, try as much as possible to eat even a light meal during your destination’s meal time.

If you arrive your destination in the morning, a protein-packed breakfast will help you get all the extra nutrients and energy you’ll need in getting through the rest of the day.

Sleep on schedule

Try your best to sleep at the right time.

This might entail trying to stay awake until you reach bedtime, or perhaps the opposite way around, trying to sleep earlier than you usually would.

A cup of calming tea can help you feel relaxed and ready for bedtime, while a fresh apple can naturally help you stay awake until bedtime without the crashing effects that a cup of coffee can bring.

Plan your activities well during the first few days upon arriving so you don’t end up stretching your energy too thin.

Jet lag really is something that can be managed and avoided, even without the use of sleeping pills and melatonin supplements.

Following these simple ways to avoid jet lag can definitely help you look and feel your best in your new destination, and allow you to go about your business in your peak performance.

Natural ways to cure jet lag

Here are some great natural ways to cure jet lag if you love to travel.

Flying is a particularly enticing variant on this, as the guilt you may associate with your increased carbon footprint can easily be offset by the excitement of going somewhere far away, in a giant metal ship in the sky.

But the further your flight takes you, particularly if you’re travelling east rather than west, the more you’ll have to pay for it in fatigue, muscle ache and insomnia when you arrive. Overcome your fear of Flying

This is the bugbear we call jet lag.

The reason it is so much worse travelling eastwards is that jet lag is caused by disruption to our circadian rhythm – the body’s internal clock, which adjusts your system according to the regularity of the light around you.

This ‘daily’ clock actually runs a cycle of a little over 24 hours, so when you travel westwards – creating an artificially longer day – you are at least working with that internal timer to some extent.

But when you travel east, the shorter day is a shock to the system.

If you’ve ever seen how disoriented the birds get during an eclipse, you’ll recognize the phenomenon.

And the thing is, even if you’re travelling west, it probably means you’re going to fly back eastwards again.

There’s no avoiding jet lag if you want to fly across multiple time zones.

Learning to manage your body’s relationship with these circadian rhythms is a superb way to minimize the damage upon landing.

Natural ways to cure jet lag

The natural remedies you can try won’t all feel very natural.

When you see that fresh linen in your hotel room, even if it’s 10 in the morning your ‘natural’ instinct will probably be to get your head down for something not too far short of eternity.

You’re going to need a good combination of natural light and good nighttime sleep (at least four hours) that first day after landing, which means a daytime nap of no more than twenty minutes should be your limit.

Whether you take it first thing on arrival or try to hold out a while is up to you, but as far as possible try to avoid self-medicating with coffee because this will also compromise the quality of that long-awaited good night’s sleep when it comes.

You can actually stimulate your body and mind to a better level of wakefulness by engaging in light exercise, so do some yoga or go for a walk to get that blood pumping and fill your lungs with oxygen – but don’t do it too close to bedtime, as again it can disrupt your sleep.

A warm morning shower and a cold evening shower can also force-reset your body’s sleep timer to the new time zone, as the temperature changes can trigger the desired release of the melatonin hormone to get you back on track.

Natural ways to cure jet lag is to bathe in sunlight

The most natural way to retrain your body, though, is to bathe it in sunlight.

This is good news if you’ve traveled somewhere hot for a relaxing holiday, but not so good if your journey eastwards has deposited you back in your gloomy hometown with a day in the office ahead of you.

Still, you can think about switching out those light bulbs for daylight LEDS, or – if this kind of travel is frequent for you – trick your body’s light receptors at source by investing in a pair of Re-Timer glasses whose soft green light has been academically proven to help regulate sleep patterns.

Once you’re actually in bed (after dark, of course) you can use traditional methods to try and get as close to that solid eight hours as possible – use an eye mask and earplugs to block out potential disturbances, and also consider packing an unwashed pillow case from home.

Used on a hotel pillow, the scent of home can subconsciously influence your body’s defensive mechanisms into feeling safer, and thus achieving a deeper sleep.

These solutions can give you a good, balanced start in your fight back against the tyranny of jet lag.

Of course, you can try to pump yourself up with pharmaceuticals and coffee, but it’s not going to be kind to your system in the long run.

Researchers even discovered that hamsters who were administered with Viagra after long flights had their jet lag reduced, although with predictable side-effects (it is not noted whether the rodents took advantage of the improved circulation to their nether regions once they checked into the their tiny hamster hotels).

But while that may be an appealing remedy for randy pets, you can be a lot kinder to your system in the long run by aligning your behavior with the broader machinations of the natural world.

For more ideas on how to do so, check out this elegant new infographic, and prepare to take control of those first critical hours after landing.

natural ways to cure jet lag

Keep Fit While Traveling

When you travel, things are quite different from usual – you tend to party more, drink more and stress more, and all of this combined really takes a toll on your body.

Often, travel turns out to be anything but relaxing…Important to get back into a routine after traveling.

Your daily agenda is crammed with so many must-see and must do events, that by the end of the day you are ready to crash out completely exhausted.

How To Keep Fit While Traveling

In times like this it’s easy to prioritize different things, and exercise usually falls far down the list – if it even shows up at all.

I know how hard it is to get yourself to actually do it, I’m guilty of excuses myself. But here are 5 things that helps me to “get it done”:

Get It Over With Early

Do it first thing in the morning, even before breakfast.

If you need to, grab a banana before you go for a walk, but it’s best to skip the breakfast till later.

Until working out becomes a daily fun habit, you need to force yourself to do it, otherwise you will always find a reason not to work out – I’m tired, I’m hungry, I slept in etc.

Keep Fit While Traveling

Working out in the morning is also great, since the parks, beaches etc are a lot less crowded, and it’s cooler outside.

Just do it when you wake up, don’t even think, just get out as fast as possible, and then when you’re out there you’re already doing it.

Hardcore For A Short Time

An intensive focused 20 minute workout can give just as much exercise as 3 hours spent sitting around in the gym, so do it quick but effectively.

Exercising doesn’t have to be time consuming.

Follow A Routine

Follow A Routine

It’s hard to workout without having a plan.

Download a workout DVD on your laptop, or just go to Bodyrock (with the insanely fit hottie).

If you can’t find a place to work out with the lap top in front of you, put it on your mp3 player and follow the instructions by listening to the teacher.

Try The Free Gym

There are always places to work out.

If there, which I doubt, aren’t any parks, any good beaches or anywhere you can work out or go for a run, then there are often gyms nearby.

Gyms often let you try out the first time for free, so ask your receptionist for some good places around.

iPhone Apps

There are many great iPhone apps to help you stay fit, and this is perfect to bring when you’re on the road.

There is everything from running to gym workouts to specific ab work outs to calorie calculator etc.

Some of the most popular apps, like the iFitness, cost a little, but there are also heaps for free ones (check out the Six Pack App and Jillian Michaels).

Just search on the apps and you’ll find something which suits you.

It might seem like a tough thing to do, but you will feel so good afterwards, it’s really rewarding.

Not because of the workout, but because you proved to yourself that you have a strong mind, that you fought against the temptation of just rolling on to the other side and fall back asleep again.

I hope these tips helped you out or inspired you to try it out for a week.

When you book your flight, for instance, ensure that you have time for sufficient sleep by moving around during the flight.

Set your watch to the time zone of the place where you will land.

Give your body a time to adjust before leaving for your destination.

Move bedtime up by 30 minutes every night if you are heading east and move it back by the same number of minutes if you are traveling west.

Do this a week before your actual departure to give yourself sufficient time in adjusting to different time zones.

Jet Lag – Top Travel Issues

Scams and Crimes

Travelers can avoid both scams and crimes by being alert and vigilant in foreign environments.

Remember that where travelers congregate, scammers will soon follow.

Be especially wary of those pretending to be police offers and accosting you for bogus violations.

Scammers presume most travelers are not aware of how police uniforms of other countries look like.

If scammers coerce you to part with your money, criminal force you to give up your cash.

Pick pockets and muggers are common encounters which you can avoid by not looking like you are ripe for being victimized.

Never look like you are lost.

That is easy to do when you have a camera dangling from your neck and looking up from a foreign language dictionary or trying to figure out a big map.

Unless you know people in the country you are traveling to – like former classmates, relatives, friends, etc. — go to your consulate or embassy and ask for advice on what areas to avoid.

If you are fortunate to know locals you can trust, ask their advice on safe attractions, restaurants, and other sites which you may want to visit.

You can also ask to accompany you.

Lost or Stolen Wallet – Passport

The worst travel issue is loss or theft of items such as wallets and passports.

This is probably the worst Travel Issues of all things that can happen when traveling!

Make copies of important documents before leaving.

Copy both sides so you’ll have access to account numbers, expiration dates and telephone numbers.

Once you’ve arrived at your destination, put your passport away in a safe place and make sure you always carry a copy with you.

Email copies to yourself too, you can always hop online and get a copy if need be.

To avoid having a shortage of cash, leave cash with a trusted friend or relative.

Common sense is key here, never carry your wallet in your back pocket or flash your cash in public.

To be extra save, leave money with friends, they can wire it to you in case something does happen.

Purses are also easily snatched in some countries, always wear a bag that straps to your body and keep all your valuables in an inside pocket.

For seniors, the loss or breakage of contact lenses or eyeglasses and/or hearing aids is, undoubtedly, frustrating since their visual and auditory functions will definitely hamper their enjoyment of the trip.

What you can do is make several copies of all the important documents that you will need while traveling prior to your departure.

Copy account numbers, telephone numbers, expiration dates, etc. on index cards and tuck them away in an envelope where your passport (and your pet passports) should also be once you have arrived at your hotel or lodging.

This envelope should be placed in a secure place where it can be readily retrieved when needed.

Always carry copies of important documents with you when you go out of your hotel or lodging.

Emailing those copies to your own email address guarantees that you can retrieve them online should there be a need for them and all other options have been ineffective.

Avoid cash shortage and leave some with the concierge and/or security of the hotel’s vault.

Don’t keep all of your money in just one place.

Leave half in your bag and half with you.

Wear clothing with several pockets if possible and distribute your money in them.

If, by misfortune, you encounter a slick pickpocket or a fast snatcher, you won’t lose all your money since it is in several places.

Write down the serial numbers of your traveler’s checks, their dates of issuance, and the issuing agency’s location for faster facilitation of their replacements.

Most people hardly ever give consideration for eyeglasses and/or contact lenses when going on a trip, yet either lost or damaged can bring your sightseeing to a grinding halt and ruin your travel.

Keep a copy of your prescription with you at all times.

Additionally, keep another copy online.

Have the phone number of your eye doctor in case you will need a recent prescription to buy a new pair of eyeglasses or contact lenses.

There are great deals on eyeglasses in some countries that have lower costs of living such as Thailand where you can get frames for your eyeglasses at cheaper prices.

Or you can get prescription sunglasses to use as backup.

Have a lens cloth and tiny screwdriver in a case to do basic repairs – tightening screws, for instance – on your eyeglasses if they tend to get loose; when this happens, it is likely that your eyeglasses can just become unscrewed and get broken or damaged.

For users of contact lenses, bring a spare pair in an unopened case.

Illness

Getting sick while on a trip is not unheard of. If your trip is overseas, ensure that you have been vaccinated.

Aside from a first aid kit, keep common medications in one container that can be easily accessed.

If you use syringes or needles for insulin injections, keep your medical certificate with — from your doctor — indicating these are for your medical use.

Motion Sickness

This is my worst Travel Issues: Motion sickness can ruin a wonderful vacation so take Dramamine or another over the counter medication to help settle your stomach before you hop on a plane. How to ease Travel Sickness

When you’re on the plane, make sure you sit directly over the wing and turn on the A/C over your seat.

If a road trip is a part of your adventure, avoid sitting in the back seat of the vehicle if you are a passenger.

Eat light meals, avoid caffeine and always stay cool.

Stomach Flu

Stomach flu, also known as viral gastroenteritis, is contagious.

When you travel it’s so easy to catch a stomach virus, from tap water to touching money or even funky foods.

Always carry hand sanitize and/or wash your hands regularly.

As soon as you feel it coming, go see a doctor, when you travel, sometimes over the counter medications can just make it worse.

Why Get Travel Insurance?

These top five issues may all be covered with a comprehensive travel insurance policy.

Having such cover will give you peace of mind and security in cases of theft, loss, and flight delays and cancellations as well as immediate medical treatment in case of serious illness, injury or accident.

Some people may tell you that having travel insurance is not necessary.

On the contrary, travel insurance ensures security for so many things involved in the course of your travel including, but not limited to, repatriation in case war breaks out in the country you are in, theft or loss of your personal items, and medical attention for an injury or accident, among other circumstances.

The bottom line… preparation is key!

Research your destination country first and plan ahead!

Traveling Abroad Organization Hacks – Important Things People Forget

Our traveling abroad organization hacks. The whole point of a holiday is relaxing, am I wrong?

How many times have you rushed out the door, worried about missing your flight, and ended up forgetting something vital?

Here’s a holiday checklist to make sure everything goes to plan, and you can enjoy your vacation in peace!

Traveling Abroad Organization Hacks – 1 month before

Entry visas For Traveling Abroad

Many countries require you to have a valid entry visa before crossing their borders.

Check with your tour operator, or on the country’s embassy website to make sure you don’t get turned away on arrival.

Traveling Abroad Organization Hacks

Make a will Before Traveling Abroad

Ensure your loved ones will be taken care of should the worst happen while you’re traveling abroad by arranging your affairs before you depart.

Great advice on why, and how, you should make a will can be found on the Saga Legal website and also on the the gov.uk website.

Passport Hack

Check it’s valid until at least the day you return home, bearing in mind some countries may require at least six months beyond that.

If you need to renew it the process can take several weeks, so don’t leave it until the last minute.

Traveling Abroad Hacks – 2 weeks before travel

Accommodation and in-resort travel hacks

If you need to hire a car while you’re away, giving yourself a few weeks to research the best deal is also a good idea.

Traveling Abroad Hacks

Insurance for Traveling Abroad Organization

Spend a bit of time looking for the right type of insurance for your needs.

If you’re skiing, or taking part in any other kind of adventurous activity, you need to be certain you’re well covered.

Prices can vary dramatically so get quotes from a few companies besides your usual provider.

Traveling Abroad Hack – 1 week before travel

Currency for Traveling Abroad Hack

It’s best to arrange a combination of traveler’s checks and cash, as well as a credit card for emergencies, on holiday.

If you leave it until you’re at the airport you’re unlikely to get a good deal.

Traveling Abroad Organize Prescription medicine

If you need a certain type of medication that may not be on sale at your destination, be sure and stock up beforehand.

Traveling Hacks

Make your home secure Before Traveling Abroad

Sadly it’s common for people to have their holiday ruined when they come home to find they’ve been burgled.

Check all your door and window locks, and that your burglar alarm is functioning properly.

If you live in an area prone to flooding and are travelling during the winter months, ensure items of financial and sentimental value aren’t on the ground floor.

Tell the bank

You could find your card is blocked if you try and pay for something or withdraw money from a machine outside Europe, as your bank may think it’s been stolen.

Save time and hassle by popping into your branch to advise them of your travel plans.

Day of Departure Traveling Abroad Organization

Traveling Abroad Organization Pets

Turn off the oven

Possibly the most common worry among holiday-makers is forgetting to turn off something like the oven, the iron, or the taps.

Double-check, because it’s better to be safe than sorry.

Leave food out for pets

Especially if you own a cat and an automatic fish feeder.

Simple Fun Table Manners around that world that will save you from some embarrassing moments:

We’ve all joked at some time about funky table manners around the world, with so many wonderful and diverse countries and cultures around the world, there’s certainly some traditions that are both fun and intriguing.

Some cultural traditions may seem strange to you but to others it’s a way of life. What is strange anyway?

Japan, China and Thailand

People from these countries are horrified when we stand them straight up.

Why?

Because at a funeral, a bowl of rice is placed in front of the coffin…with chopsticks standing straight up!

Japan

Japan

It’s a good thing to slurp when you’re eating in Japan.

It shows that you’ve enjoyed your meal and appreciate it very much.

Different areas in Africa and Southern India

Did you know it is dirty to eat with your left hand?

We won’t tell you why, but trust us, it is.

Only eat with your right hand.

European countries

Always keep your hands off of your lap while eating.

Keep them visible, on the table.

Hands on the table, yes, but elbows on the table, no.

In the U.S. you can lay your hands in your lap and maybe one elbow on the table, but not in Germany table manners.

Fun Table Manners

Understanding the table manners of other cultures will save you from some embarrassing moments in restaurants or with your host family, do your research before leaving home.

As odd as some of them may seem, they are important to those who live there.

So go ahead, burp and slurp all you want, but in the appropriate country, of course.

Always Eat With Your Mouth Closed

When I arrived in Moscow, Russia early last year, and my stomach started to grumble, I realized that my knowledge of Russian cuisine was limited to say the least.

European countries

Being a vegetarian, I have always assumed that the Russian menu is akin to the German – hearty, wholesome and meaty.

To some extent, I wasn’t wrong, my partner had a lovely time devouring various “мясо” delights.

Yet what vegetarians (or maybe just me), fail to understand is that the food is there, you just have to find it.

For easy vegetarian food, and a feast for the eyes, I would highly recommend the outdoor markets.

The food comes from far and wide and is very affordable, especially if you manage a few cheeky haggling words in Russian.

Although it’s no fancy restaurant, there are hot options, including some delicious soups and some scarily sword-like skewers for the carnivores.

Sortie Club

If you fancy more of a dining experience then there are countless restaurants to choose from.

One I would mention in particular is the ‘Vogue Cafe’.

This is about as far away from your English ‘cafe’ as you can imagine, and can only be described as an ‘experience’.

When the two scantily clad women met us at the door (and I saw my partner’s eyes light up) I began to wonder what we had let ourselves in for.

When we were seated I looked around and quickly realized that this was a place to ‘see and be seen’, with about 80% of the customers being well over the beauty Richter scale.

However, it was as beautiful on the inside as it was on the out!

Living up to my true vegetarian stereotype I had a Greek Salad and a risotto and they were both unbelievably delicious, despite the constant feeling that I was being watched by the Vogue clan.

food is traditional

For a more relaxed bohemian vibe, where you can chew as loudly as you like, I would suggest H.L.A.M.

It stands for Actors, writers, artists, musicians, and there is a truly creative buzz to the place.

The décor is incredible – the ceiling is drenched in gold and the walls are covered in silk.

Although there is no gourmet menu, the food is traditional, comfortably simplistic, and affordable!

They also bring a unique touch to their menu with a ‘Green list’, which has 50 different types of vegetables, fruits and herbs that can be prepared as you like.

I had a lot of fun, as you can imagine!

Moscow’s culinary treasures are truly unique; each dining experience an adventure, or a colorful story to recount to friends and family.

Although it can be expensive, or somewhat intimidating, it definitely beats the overcooked sight of Pret a Manger, so go tickle your taste buds, your eyes and your ears in Moscow!

Keeping your Home Safe While You’re Abroad

If you’re leaving your home empty while you travel, you’re running the risk of something happening to it.

Whether it’s a burglary or a burst pipe, the best way to ruin an amazing journey is to come home to devastation in your home.

However there are ways that you can reduce the risk of calamity striking while you’re away and keeping your home safe while you’re abroad.

Ask a Person You Trust to Help

The best way you can reduce of burglary is to get someone to check up on your house regularly and to keep it in good shape.

If you can find someone you trust, perhaps your mum or a good friend, to come by your house every day, or every couple of days to bring the mail in, water any plants, and generally look after it.

Better still, get them to move in!

A burglar will watch your house for a few days before they decide to break in, so making sure that your home doesn’t look empty is crucial.

Make sure you leave contact details in the case of an emergency, as well as details on where the fuse box is or how to shut off the mains water pipe too.

Careless Talk Costs Lives

It’s unlikely that you telling your friend that you’re off on holiday for a while will result in anyone getting hurt, but being careless with who you tell could cost you precious belongings.

You might not think twice about sharing the fact that you’re leaving the country on social media, but in reality, you don’t know half the people on your Facebook as well as you should.

They could be tempted into breaking into your home, because they know you’re not there.

Tell the Right People

If you’re leaving for a long time, it may pay to tell the right people.

If you have a neighborhood watch operating in your area, tell them, and they’ll keep a closer eye on your property.

However, make sure that you also tell them about the person who is checking up on your home!

There are security alarms available that will contact the police if the alarm is left for a certain period of time.

This is perfect for when you’re away, as a security alarm will also act as a deterrent to any burglars scoping out your home.

Remove Valuables

Removing valuables from your home will make it less likely that anyone will break in.

It is often advised to remove any valuables from plain site from the windows, so thieves won’t look in, see valuable items and break in and take it.

If you have a lot of valuables, or no where to put them out of site, then storing them may be your best option.

Turn it Off

Unplug everything, from your television to your toaster.

This will save energy, money, and will reduce the risk of your appliances burning out or being damaged in power surges.

So whether you’re just going away for a short while or for a whole year, make sure that your home is safe and looked after.

How To Cross Land Borders Smoothly

Crossing a border over land can be tricky as hell or really smooth, and sometimes which one it turns out to be is not entirely up to you or even the officials – but the bus drivers.

best way to reach the border

The bus drivers conveniently make you stop for an hour or two in the heat to make you buy food and drinks from the stalls that belong to their company, or there has been miscommunications on the bus company and you have to wait for passengers.

However, there are things that you have control over and will help you cross the border faster and more smoothly.

Find out the best way to reach the border.

In some countries border towns can be rather dodgy, and some of the organized bus companies are scams – research well before deciding how you will reach the border.

Find out if the border is in the middle of nowhere and if you have to arrange a transport to another city across the border, or if you can just get a bus/taxi/tuk tuk to the border and then another type of transport on the other side.

Shop around for prices and compare the information.

The info that the travel agency and hotels tell you can be surprisingly different, so to get the most accurate results ask the same questions to a few different people and compare the answers.

Get a visa in advance

Get a visa in advance.

Sometimes this can be very good to have.

Getting Visas on arrival can turn out to be more costly and take more time.

At some borders it’s easy and quick, at others it’s a nightmare.

Research your border crossing to see what other people’s experiences are, and then research what the embassy is like.

In Vientiane for example, getting a Thai visa is a long and painful process, while the Cambodian Visa is quick and easy and you get it already the same day.

Also, to make things go faster at the border, write the details on your departure card the night before or before leaving, so you have it ready to hand over.

How To Cross Land Borders Smoothly

Have all your things handy in one and the same place.

Money, papers, photos, passport and pen – keep it all close together, and when handing over the money, passport and photo, do it all together at the same time.

Bring correct cash.

Figure out beforehand exactly what your visa will cost, if there are any additional costs and how much they are.

Then bring the exact change for every stop.

Sometimes they charge a dollar per stamp in different booths, bring a dollar for each, not combined.

Stick to your group.

If you go with a bus, try to stick together with those people so you know where everyone is and so you don’t get on the wrong bus.

Cities You Have to Visit This Year – Despite the fact that all those recommendations which started last year but the year flew by and is now over, we still can talk a bit about some places around the globe that actually are worth visiting this coming year.

And today, let’s take some of your time and discuss at least six cities really worth visiting this year! Why?

So, let’s get to the list right away, and let’s not forget those fantastic cities that will become real hotspots!

Cities You Have to Visit

San Sebastian (Spain)

Let’s begin with one of the most important cities in Europe, for the year 2016. San Sebastian, which you can find in Spain, this year, is named to be the cultural capital of the whole continent.

So logically here you will get a chance to visit numerous cultural events all year long.

Cities You Have to Visit San Sebastian Spain

The city took this honor really responsibly – even built a brand new Tabakaleros modern cultural center, which is located in the former tobacco factory.

So you can understand that the whole town is really prepared to pamper everyone with real Spanish culture.

It is also worth remembering that in San Sebastian, the worldly famous film festival takes places, and in 2016 it will celebrate this 63 anniversary.

So, if you love cinema and culture, San Sebastian should definitely be your top priority in 2016!

Stratford upon Avon (United Kingdom)

This year, the whole United Kingdom is going to honor one of the most famous writers of all time – William Shakespeare, since in 2016, it will be exactly 400 years after his death.

To mark this occasions, all around the country will prepare many cultural events, so it is worth considering visiting the United Kingdom as well, especially if you are a huge fan of Shakespeare!

In Shakespeare’s birthplace of Stratford, you will get a chance to attend probably the biggest number of cultural events, while in the last home of this amazing author – in New Place, you can attend tours which will focus on writer’s life and death.

In Guildhall, where it is believed he attended school, the exhibition will be opened too.

And of course – in the Royal Shakespeare Theater you can enjoy many plays written by the maestro himself.

Havana Cuba

In fact, the whole April will be dedicated to Shakespeare alone, so start planning your trip around that time for sure!

Havana (Cuba)

The year 2016 is one of the best times because, with the beginning of this year, the new era in Cuba started as well.

This communist country actually decided to open up their borders and invite tourists to come.

So right now where won’t be any better time to visit the beautiful capital city of Havana than ever!

It is said that the best time to visit Cuba is around March and April, when you won’t meet tons of tourist around, the weather is not too hot or cold, and there is less chance for tropical storms to come.

Therefore, it is still some time left to plan your perfect trip to this fabulous country, seem-to-be stuck in time.

Kutaisi (Georgia)

If you have never been to one of the most amazing countries in the Europe, then you should definitely start with Georgia’s city of Kutaisi, which is also the new administration center of the country as well.

Rio de Janeiro Brazil

Kutaisi is the second largest town in Georgia, and it can offer you a wide range of attractions all tourists will love.

Here you can find both excellent examples of traditional Georgian architecture and some of the modern one too.

Not to forget beautiful monasteries and temples, and the fact, that Georgia is very famous for its delicious wine.

So here you can also stop by at many wine yards and taste the best and the freshest wine straight from the hands that made it!

Rio de Janeiro (Brazil)

Of course, we can’t forget to mention Rio – the city in which all worlds’ best sportsmen will come to compete in Olympic Games!

It will start on August 5th and end up on August 21, so mark your calendars and definitely come by here to meet new people from all around the world, and see some real human’s body achievements as well!

Let’s also not forget about the traditional Rio carnival you can also attend! But you should really hurry up because it is set to begin on February 5th!

It is widely known how crazy, colorful and fun it is, so it is the experience of the lifetime to observe this incredible party live!

Nuuk (Greenland)

Greenland capital of Nuuk is one of the smallest capitals in the world.

And in March (6-11 days) here begins an international Arctic Winter Games, presented as the largest event of its kind.

So here you will see that the paddle is not only part of the vehicle, but it is also a sport!

If the games do not attract you, Greenland can offer you some alternatives.

Here you can also attend the music, food and dance festival, which will be fun to watch too!

It is recommended to go to Greenland from March to September, because of the better weather and the chance to see the Northern lights too!

Places To Visit Before It’s Too Late

I wish I couldn’t write about this topic of Places to Visit Before It’s Too Late, but sadly enough it’s not all that hard.

There are places that are reaching a point of destruction, and for different reasons they will soon be gone.

As I write this post, I feel split between paradoxes.

While I would really want to see these places, I would be contributing to the problem that made me go to an endangered site in the first place.

Global warming is our own fault, and that’s a heartbreaking fact.

So while I feel inspired to go to these places, the fact that they might not be there for long because of our actions, makes me want to go there in an environmentally friendly way.

Places to visit Before It’s Too Late

So as much as I hope to inspire to travel to these places, I hope to inspire to a greener way of getting there.

Some of the places here are a few places that scientists and key reports say are feeling the effects of global warming today — places to consider as you put together your travel plans.

The Dead Sea

Want to float on top of water like a cork in the Dead Sea?

Or maybe you would want to go there for the healing natural minerals in the water?

The Dead Sea

Well, hurry up because The Dead Sea is evaporating!

And it does this at an alarming rate.

As though the global warming wasn’t enough, the problem is compounded by extraction and evaporation of water from the Dead Sea to extract the valuable mineral salts.

Belize Barrier Reef

Warmer oceans mean stressed coral, which results in bleaching and death. Corals are incredibly sensitive, but very important for the marine life to survive.

Coral is threatened by people breaking them, damaging them and using them for jewelry.

If you ever break a coral, they die.

Belize Coral Reef

Therefore, when you snorkel and dive you have to be very careful not to touch them.

Part of the reason why they’re so fragile is because they only reproduce once every year, and few of the seeds ever get the chance to grow.

In Belize, more than half of the coral reefs in Caribbean are ALREADY gone.

Report revealed that the world’s coral is dying at record rates because of pollution, disease and global warming.

In the Caribbean, eighty percent of corals have died over the past three decades.

The Swiss Alps

The scenery will change drastically within the next few decades, the season will get shorter, and the glaciers there are already melting.

Although for us it was hard to see how it could be warmer than usual in -30 degrees last winter, the ski season arrived rather late.

There are many factors that cause the global warming and pollution, and although it might seem like the world wouldn’t be better if you changed your ways of living, it would.

Those are a few of mine – which places would YOU like to visit before it becomes too late?

Best Cities To Celebrate Halloween

We’ve finally reached the month of October, and while over here in Europe the days turn darker and colder – we have one thing to look forward to: Halloween!

While many people think that Halloween is a rather new thing and a way for businesses to make money, it is actually a tradition dating back several hundred years.

Even the trick-or-treating tradition has been there since the Middle ages, although back then they were poor people who would receive food in return for prayers for the dead.

Halloween is celebrated in many parts of the world, and in many different ways, so here are a few great places to celebrate your next Halloween!

Edinburgh, Scotland – The Ghost Tours

Edinburgh, often referred to as the most haunted city in Europe, is the perfect place to celebrate Halloween and scare the hell out of yourself.

There are plenty of ghost tours to choose from, whether you want something more historically accurate or just creepy and scary stories.

Mary King’s Close takes you underground to streets where people once used to live, and have special access to some very interesting underground vaults.

The city itself is quite special, with many closes leading off the main streets, old beautiful buildings and a castle perched on top of an extinct volcano.

In general, the old town is a dark place at night, and not at all as lit up as you would expect from a big city.

Prague, Czech Republic – The Creepy Atmosphere

Prague, Czech Republic – The Creepy Atmosphere

Prague with its gothic architecture, cobble stoned streets and the old Jewish cemetery makes Prague the perfect Halloween destination.

The old Jewish cemetery is an eery plot of land – nobody knows exactly how many people have been buried they are buried in layers upon layers.

The grave stones are in all shapes and sizes, positioned in all directions, and about 12 000 are visible, but they estimate that 100, 000 people have been buried there.

Another reason to visit Czech Republic is to see the famous ossuary in Sedlec, one of the largest, spookiest oussaries in the world.

The estimated 70,000 human skeleton bones have been artistically arranged to decorate the church, both as furniture as well as an enormous chandelier (which contains at least one of every human bone in a body).

New York, USA – The Parade

New York, USA – The Parade

New York’s Village Halloween Parade is an annual parade presented every Halloween in New York City’s Greenwich Village.

It’s a huge parade, in fact the largest public Halloween event in United States, drawing 2 million spectators and 50 000 participants – best of all, anyone who is dressed up in costume is welcome to join!

With so many people crowding the city it will be impossible finding parking in town, but there are many LaGuardia airport parking options available so you could leave the car there, and go with a better option and take the bus, and just so you know, the parade is held on 6th avenue!

Oaxaca, Mexico – For A Different Halloween

Best Cities To Celebrate Halloween

In Mexico they have a celebration quite similar to our Halloween but with some very distinct differences.

It’s called ”The Day Of The Dead”, and is celebrated every year on the 1st and 2nd of November.

During these celebrations, dead relatives are allowed to return the mortal world to visit their loved ones, and get to sample earthly treats like drinks and food.

Gravestones are decorated and families gather in the graveyards to pay respect and bring the deceased their favorite food.

This is the place I would most like to visit during Halloween – how about you?

What are your plans for Halloween this year?

BONUS LOCATIONS TO VISIT: Beatles Inspired Places Around The World

For all you hard-core Beatles fans out there it’s probably not news, but this year the world celebrates the 50th anniversary of the Beatles, and in Liverpool the whole year will be packed with events to pay tribute to this band.

Obviously, The Beatles have played a huge role as inspiration for many musical artists, but they have also had an influence on many other things, from baby names to travel destinations.

We thought we would share some really cool places around the world that have taken their Beatles-influences to the next level…

Beatles Inspired Hotels

Hard Days Night

Located at the heart of Liverpool’s “Beatles Quarter” – the Hard Days Night hotel claims they were the world’s first (but no longer the only) Beatles inspired hotel, with furnishings, paintings and artwork all inspired by the Beatles.

The location and the atmosphere of the hotel couldn’t be a better way to relive the 60’s – or for us younger people, to experience it for the first time.

We All Live In A Yellow Submarine

A brand new addition to all Beatles themed places, this floating old narrow boat has been renovated into a fully functioning 3-bedroom hotel in the looks of a Beatles-inspired yellow submarine!

Located in Liverpool’s Albert Dock, this psychedelic Beatles hotel is full of memorabilia (plus a motorbike from the 1970’s movie Quadrophenia), and serves as a good introduction to the Beatles hometown.

Beatles Inspired Clubs

The Beatles Revolution Lounge at Mirage in Las Vegas is a trippy place inspired by the Beatles and designed by Cirque du Soleil, very psychedelic but cool.

Beatles Inspired Clubs

The Beatles Quarter in Liverpool has a number of bars that play Beatles songs a few nights a week, but no bar is as closely related to the band as The Cavern Bar, which in the 60’s became the most publicized music venue in the world, and where Beatles popularity exploded.

The area is pretty rowdy at night, so once you’re done partying and singing along to the Beatles cover bands it’s better to stay the night at Jury’s hotel in Liverpool slightly away from the noise.

Another bar, inspired by Beatles and even by the Cavern Bar, is Beatles Club “Cavern Club” in Tbilsi in Georgia.

Beatles Inspired Restaurants

Beatles Inspired Restaurants

When it comes to Beatlemania, perhaps no genre has as many Beatles influences as restaurants around the world, there is even a Beatles restaurant by the beach in Kovalam in India..!

RockFish Boardwalk Bar and Seagrill on Virginia Beach plays exclusively Beatles songs 24/7, the walls are full of Beatles photos, instruments and records.

Unlike many other Beatles themed restaurants, like the Rigby pub and Grill in Madison, is not completely inspired by Beatles songs, but you can still get an “all you need is love” catch of the day or “it’s all too much” seafood platter, and wash it down with a “Yellow submarine”.

How to Protect Against Mosquitoes – We affectionately call my son a “mosquito magnet.” My husband, daughter, and I don’t even need to wear mosquito repellent when my son is around. Mosquitoes find him no matter what he’s wearing and no matter how much we’ve sprayed and slathered him with mosquito repellent.

How to protect against mosquitoes

All mosquitoes need water to breed, so eradication and population-control efforts usually involve removal or treatment of standing water sources. Insecticide spraying to kill adult mosquitoes is also widespread.

However, global efforts to stop the spread of mosquitoes are having little effect, and many scientists think global warming will likely increase their number and range.

Ways to protect from mosquitoes

There are a number of ways people can protect themselves against mosquitoes.

Insect sprays can be effective for personal use, provided that they have a DEET component.

You must cover your ankles, neck, elbows, and wrists especially. Mosquitoes have a way of finding you!

It’s important you know how to make travel look good on your CV. Many people, especially those on a competitive career path, are very hesitant about taking some time off to travel the world.

I’ve met people who say that they would love to travel the world for a year, and that they probably will – one day.

“One day, when I’ve finished studying.” “One day, when I’ve made it in my career.” “I will when the kids grow up.”

Unfortunately, that day usually never comes because there will always be something in the way.

There is no right time to travel, which is why you should do it RIGHT NOW.

We can’t live our entire lives dreaming about the future.

But what about that career?

Won’t it look bad on my CV – having a whole year just blank? Here are some tips on how to travel and still make it look good on your resume.

How To Make Travel Look Good On Your CV

How to Make Travel Look Good on Your CV

Volunteer or Work

How To Make Travel Look Good

Taking a whole year off to volunteer will look very impressive on your CV, and you’ll have a great time doing it.

Besides, there are so many types of volunteer work that you might actually find something which will be directly related to the skills needed in your job.

This will show that you have an incredible passion and love for your work, care about others and aren’t afraid of hard work.

If you have training and work in health care, taking a year off for medical volunteering abroad will be both a rewarding as well as a beneficial experience for your career.

A more general but also very beneficial option is to teach English abroad.

There are both jobs where you volunteer for free as well as jobs that actually pay you a salary.

That way you can work, but still have time leftover to explore the country you’re in and enjoy the best it has to offer, be it on the weekends and afternoons.

Just Want to Travel?

How To Make Travel Look Good On Your resume

If you’re not into volunteering or working abroad but just want to travel, then don’t lie about it on your CV and say you had a work experience when you didn’t.

Instead, be honest about it and put your gap year under “Other Experience”, including the dates.

This, however, doesn’t mean that your experience wasn’t important.

You learn a lot of skills from traveling, it’s just about putting it down the right way on paper.

If you learned how to bargain and haggle, you’ve learned some great “negotiation skills”.

The planning, financing and organization of your trip taught you “planning and budgeting”, and how to keep a record of your expenses.

Your unplanned situations, culture shocks, and how you dealt with them can be put down as “adaptability”, and you can write about how you cultivated great “language and communication skills” when communicating with people and overcoming language barriers.

Study Abroad

When you choose a study exchange program, you can use your travel experience in many ways that will benefit you.

You will be working on completely your university degree.

Hopefully, you will work on learning the native language there.

You should also enjoy traveling around and see as many places as you can.

Show Off the Blog

Travel Look Good On Your CV

If you have a travel blog, it’s definitely something to include on your CV, and why not include the long list of skills you learned from maintaining your blog:

Website designing, php coding, networking, writing, SEO and social media skills are all very good and useful skills to include!

The Big No-No

Many companies like that their employees have taken a year off because it often means they’ve “done it” already and won’t be traveling again.

Don’t let on that you might be leaving for another big trip, even if you are.

For those of you who are doubting whether to take that year off to travel the world, I hope this article gave you a kick in the right direction, and for those who have just finished a big trip, I hope this helps with working out what to write on your CV.

5 Things We’ve Learned after our 1st Year Of Travel Blogging

What?! Was the first thing that came to my mind – how the hell did we get here?!

What we learned travelling

This year has gone past so fast – we have had As We Travel for exactly one whole year, and we’re enjoying it more and more as every week goes by.

We have definitely had our ups and downs, and despite having so many great bloggers to learn from, we still learnt SO many things the hard way.

Here are a few things we have learned during our 1st year of blogging.

Blogging Is Easy – Travel Blogging Is Not

Travel on a resume

Sitting at a desk in a nice ergonomic chair with your laptop, having all day to work, food in the fridge and a home to live in, is far away from the reality of a travel blogger.

We write on our 11 inch laptops lying in awkward positions on hard beds in run-down hostels, moving every few days and trying to explore the places we visit while working on a website.

To me, the most difficult task has been to keep the focus and inspiration while trying to deal with Visa applications, transport, finding WiFi, etc.

Good Things Take Time

I’ve found that many people I meet who know nothing about blogging (and don’t have a blog themselves), have many presumptions about it.

They either think it’s really easy to create a successful blog – that it’s just to start writing a few posts and you’ll make heaps of money, or they think it’s a waste of time and don’t see it as an actual job.

Either of the two, they don’t take it seriously at all.

This can easily make you doubt yourself and question what you’re really doing.

You know you would never work at a place without getting paid the first month, never write for a magazine for free everyday for months, but at the same time you’re spending as many hours as a full time job without getting paid for your blog at first.

Just try to remember that all good things take time.

Without Passion You Lose The Drive

Traveling on a resume

To keep up a blog, you need to have a true passion for what you do, or else you can stop doing it right away.

We learned pretty quickly that blogging and traveling is exactly what we want right now in our lives.

We want to share our travels, our thoughts and our tips, and we want to do it on our own terms.

There’s something to be said about being our own bosses, no matter how much we have to work for it.

People always go on and on about how the young people today want to start their own businesses but never realize how much work it means.

I don’t care how much work it means, I want it.

And I know that if I didn’t want it so bad, I would have quit doing it a long time ago…

Even The Smallest Things Make A Big Difference

social media marketing and traveling

We like to play around a little and test different things on our site.

Sometimes it works, sometimes not. But if we’re curious, we’ll give it a try.

What we have noticed, though, is that some of those tweeks sometimes make a big difference.

Put a plugin here or there, and you can either lose subscribers or gain subscribers.

You Can’t Do This On Your Own

Blogging is a social business.

Bloggers interact and share with each other.

A blog with good content and design would be nothing without readers and other bloggers sharing your site with others.

Social network means everything for a website, being able to connect in different ways with people.

As much as you would like to, you can’t only rely on yourself, but you also need the social network to help you out.

We feel so blessed to be able to do this as our full-time jobs, sharing our content with you as we travel around the world.

We’re hoping that a picture, a few lines will provoke and inspire you to also go out there and live this life the way YOU want.

We thank you from the bottom of our hearts, since we know none of this would be what it is without you reading these words, and sharing what we do with others around the world.

SO THANK YOU SO MUCH!! 🙂

5 Things We’ve Learned After Our 2nd Year of Travel Blogging

It almost feels like a lifetime has passed since we started AsWeTravel.com exactly two years ago today – so much has happened in our lives since then.

Last year we posted a blog about some of the things we learned from our first year of blogging, in the hopes that you might learn something from our experiences as well.

This second year has been different in so many ways and we have learnt as much about travel blogging as we have about ourselves and the kind of life we want to lead.

Here are some of the main things we’ve learned from our second year of travel blogging.

Limit Your Daily Time Online

Successful travel blogging

During our first year of blogging we became obsessed with having internet access everywhere and being connected online all day every day.

During our second year we realized that the blog doesn’t ALWAYS need ”round the clock care”, it can take care of itself for most of the day – and, more importantly – many things you think you need to do can wait.

We realized that we were spending many more hours online than we actually needed – the work we had to do could have taken only a few hours, but we were messing around, working ineffectively which would result in us spending 6-8 hours instead.

By giving ourselves a deadline, or a time limit, we worked much more effectively, and gave ourselves more free time to explore the places we visited.

Decide how many hours you really need to spend online every day, and then only spend that time working.

Learn How To Separate Travel & Travel Blogging

Separate Travel & Travel Blogging

When you travel full-time like we have for the last 2 years, it is very important to learn how to separate work and travel, then draw a clear line between the two.

Rather than sitting in a café or bar tweeting on your iPhone (for your blog) – sit back, relax and look around you – learn to enjoy the moments just as a traveler, not always as a travel blogger.

By always being connected with your iPhone, updating Twitter telling everyone where you are etc – you risk not actually enjoying the places you visit.

As a travel blogger, it is easy to lose yourself in work, and by always “looking for the story” you might actually miss it.

We noticed that when we disconnected and simply went out as travelers – the right story for the right city came to us by itself.

Ask & You Shall Receive

Successful Travel & Travel Blogging

This year we’ve realized that if you want something – sponsored trips, free hotel stays, travel products to test etc – all you really need to do is ask.

After getting sponsored stays in over 30 hotels and hostels in the last year, and getting plenty of other sponsored attractions, passes and activities with tourism boards – we’ve realized that the worst that could happen is to simply get a ‘no’, and that shouldn’t put you off but instead push you to grow your site & connections even more.

The same goes for other things as well – if you tell yourself that you will reach a certain goal (monthly traffic, twitter followers, earnings etc) eventually you will find a way to achieve it – if you just trust and are passionate enough to work hard for it.

We’ve really learned how to appreciate the power of positive goal setting and mental focus on what we want, rather than giving any focus to negative events which may show up.

Pace Yourself & Don’t Try To Do Everything

Pictures for travel blogging

In the last year, we completely overwhelmed ourselves and tried to do too many things rather than taking one thing at a time – one example was the Europe Train Challenge.

During the train challenge we traveled to 33 countries in 75 days, spent 2 days in each place, filmed a video episode from each city & wrote 2 articles about each city – phew!

That really was an amazing experience, and it forced us to really focus and work hard, but looking back we have learnt that it is better to focus on fewer things and do them as well as you can, than trying to do too many things at once.

By trying to film, take photos, stand in front of the camera, write articles and at the same time capture and experience every place we visited – traveling became pretty stressful, especially with a time limit.

We learned to focus on one thing at a time and pace ourselves so that we wouldn’t get overwhelmed – remember that you can always go back next year again. 😉

What Others Think of Your Blog is None of Your Business

You will meet a lot of people who don’t understand why or what you’re doing when travel blogging, and some will even disapprove, but just because people don’t agree with what you do, that doesn’t mean they’re right.

Never do anything you don’t want to do, and never give up on something you believe in just because others don’t.

When I heard Wayne Dyer say, “What you think of me is none of my business,” I could really relate this to travel blogging. Learn to meet jealousy, doubt, ignorance and confusion with a smile.

Our second year of blogging has been full of many great successes and a few big mistakes, but that’s what life is for – to live, to learn, and to see every mistake as a learning curve which helps you grow as a person.

We still have a lot left to learn, and I’m really looking forward to see what lessons this year (2012) will bring.

3 Years of Travel Blogging – It’s About Learning & Growing

It feels like these past 3 years have gone by so quickly and yet we’ve experienced and learned so much since we started blogging – when we began this journey 3 years ago we never realized how much it would end up changing our lives and the decisions we made.

Who knew a blog could be life changing in such a way?

Today we want to take a moment to look back at our year and the things we’ve learned about ourselves, blogging and business, and what we’re most grateful for …

Learning Skills for Any Industry

Sometimes there is just no shortcut.

You have to do things the hard way by learning from your mistakes – this year, we’ve done that more than ever before with the 3 new non-travel related websites and 2 iPhone apps we are working on.

But while we learned so many new things, we also realized just how much the knowledge and skills you get from travel blogging can be used in other industries online.

Next to the good old “make-money-blogging-bloggers” – travel bloggers are among the most internet-tech-savvy of bloggers, and it’s a great industry to learn new things which you can implement in other projects.

Techniques we take for granted or are overused in travel blogging can be used to really push and promote your company websites to another level elsewhere.

Our YouTube Fans are Awesome!

Among the things we’re most grateful for this year with As We Travel are our YouTube followers.

After we released 50 travel videos in 2011 and 2012, it was a big anti-climax when nobody seemed interested in them on our blog – not many comments, not much appreciation – nothing … we thought the hard work of making these videos had been a massive waste of time. But it turns out that good things sometimes take time.

Today, we have over half a million views on YouTube, and 50,000 monthly viewers watching our videos.

We love the crazy comments and wild discussions that our videos provoke, from laws about filming publicly, to how you’re really supposed to drink Turkish coffee.

We have had TV channels from America, Canada, China, and Czech Republic reaching out to us wanting to use our video content on their official TV channels.

And it’s really fun to see that people appreciate the effort we have put into them.

Every Path in Life Has Sacrifices.

No matter what you do in life, there will always be sacrifices – there will be as many sacrifices if you choose to quit your 9 to 5 job as there will be if you choose to stay.

This isn’t something many people care to talk about – we live with this illusion that getting away from everything will cure every problem we have, when in fact leaving will often bring up even more problems than if you were to stay at home if you don’t understand the real cause.

During the last 3 years we have been tested over and over again if this life choice to travel and work the way we do really was the right decision to make – the amount of times we nearly decided to give it all up for a “morally-correct” job can’t be counted on our fingers.

The realization that you will have to sacrifice things with any choice you make in life really helped us stay on track and continue to build what we have done.

It all comes down to what means more to you, and what you’re willing to let go of.

We chose an uncertain life over a safe path, and we have to deal with the consequences of that, but in the end it has all been worth it.

Which are the top 10 best luxury safari camps in Africa – this is of course debate-able as its not always the most expensive which are the best, this all depends on what exactly you want from your safari.

Nevertheless here is a list of Africa’s top ten most famous and unique Luxury camps, well worth a safari holiday.

Sand Rivers Selous, Selous, Southern Tanzania

This lodge is world famous, and it’s hard to explain why.

The magic of it’s location is very hard to put into words.

Set in a remote corner of the Selous with magnificent views of the Rufiji River complete with hippos, crocs and other game species, this lodge is ultra luxurious and offers a relaxing and homely atmosphere.

You feel like part of a gang. The guides here are sensational and their tracking is second to none.

The light here is almost ethereal which we think must be why the place seems so magical.

BEST LUXURY SAFARI Zarafa Bath

Zarafa, Okavango Delta, Botswana

Zarafa has just four tents, although it’s hard to describe them as tents.

They come complete with roll top copper baths, sitting rooms and four poster beds.

The views of the lagoon mean that game viewing can take place from your veranda.

Set in the vast Selinda Reserve once again you are guaranteed not to see another soul when game viewing from this exclusive camp.

BEST LUXURY SAFARI Chada

Chada Katavi, Katavi, Western Tanzania

This camp may not be the most luxurious compared to the others listed here but it’s location is one of the most sensational in all of Africa.

Katavi National Park represents Africa fifty years ago, vast spaces without camps or tourists and with abundant game.

Here you will still see huge herds of elephant and buffalo, and predators around every corner.

Chada offers fly camping, walking and game drives so you can really explore the bush, and feel as if you’re the first person to see it all.

BEST LUXURY SAFARI Tswalu Kal

Tswalu Kalahari, South Africa

This luxury lodge has been leading the way when it comes to desert camps for years.

The Kalahari forms such a major part of Africa and its black maned lions, vast red sand vistas and habituated meerkat families cannot disappoint.

Tswalu is modern and chic and the desert lifestyle here is romantic and incredibly rewarding.

BEST LUXURY SAFARI San Camp

San Camp, Makgadikgadi Pans, Botswana

Onto another desert camp – San Camp is all Moroccan tents and white flowing fabrics, furnished with Persian rugs and antique campaign furniture.

Set on the Makgadikgadi Pans this camp must feel as it feels to be on the moon.

This area is magical with doum palms springing from nowhere, the San bushmen as guides, quad bikes, horses, star gazing and meerkats to name but a few of the life changing experiences you’ll have whilst staying here.

Saruni Samburu, Samburu, Northern Kenya

A large part of the charm of this luxury lodge is the charismatic local Samburu who run it.

They have the best sense of humor and look elegant and beautiful in their brightly colored shuka and beads.

The views from the lodge are breathtaking and you can often see elephants and other game below.

In fact the rock where Saruni is built is a favorite place for leopard.

The lodge itself is very spoiling and fits beautifully into its surroundings, the rooms are enormous with private verandas on which to while away the hours.

Wolwedans, Namibia

Wolwedans in Namibia is a vast private reserve, which has several accommodation options, each more luxurious than the first.

Here the emphasis is on desert life and the vast mountains range from purple to bright red.

Star gazing here is also second to none and one has never felt so remote as you feel here.

Londolozi Granite Suites, Sabi Sands, South Africa

The Granite Suites on Londolozi ooze exclusivity and boast some of the best wildlife viewing in the world.

Take all of them for a party, or just one for a private safari which is unrivaled in luxury or glamour.

Chinzombo, South Luangwa, Zambia

Chinzombo is the latest offering from professional safari operator Norman Carr and it does not disappoint.

This lodge is modern and very luxurious with stunning views of the South Luangwa, famous for being one of the best spots in Africa to see wild dog and leopard.

Places For Your African Safari Wildlife

Your African Safari is always a great pleasure to see wild animals in their natural setting.

Africa being most popular continent in the world for wildlife safari, wildlife lovers head to Africa to have the best wildlife viewing experiences.

If you consider yourself an avid wildlife lover, consider exploring the following 5 best wildlife safari destinations in Africa:

Botswana Safaris

The wildlife treasure of Botswana includes everything from abundant bird life to rhinos.

The Chobe National Park and the Makgadikgadi Pans are among the most popular wildlife safari destinations in Botswana.

In a nutshell, Botswana is truly an amazing destination to see wildlife in their natural setting.

Kenya Safaris

Kenya is the land of famous Maasai Mara game reserve where zebras and wildebeest migrate in millions with huge predators of Africa following their wake.

There are more than 40 nature reserves and national parks in this East African country.

Kenya is simply the perfect African safari destination with millions of pink flamingos, Amboseli elephant families and the red elephants of Tsavo.

Leopards and lions are simple part of landscapes in Kenya.

Zambia Safaris

Zambia is a destination with mesmerizing, remote wilderness full of an amazing diversity of wild animals.

Although it is a landlocked country, it has some wonderful rivers and also the world’s biggest waterfall.

Some of the most known wildlife viewing locations can be found on safari in Zambia, including the Kafue, Liuwa, Lower Zambezi, and South Luangwa national parks.

Kasanka and Bangweulu Swamps are some specialist areas where only the most avid wildlife lovers dare to explore.

Tanzania Safaris

Zanzibar Tanzania Safaris are a destination where chimpanzees swing through the treetops, elephants roam along seasonal migration routes, Hippos push for space in muddy waterways, and wildebeest rush across the plains.

It is a wildlife treasure where you can expect to find some of the rare species of animals and birds in their own natural setting.

You can see wild lions padding in front of your vehicle at the Ngorongoro Crater.

You can also see water birds peck in the shallows around Rubondo Island, giraffes silhouetted against ancient baobab trees in Ruaha National Park, crocodiles in Selous Game Reserve.

Magaliesberg Bike Trails South Africa

Zimbabwe Safaris

Zimbabwe might not be as popular as many other safari destinations in Africa, but you can’t leave it out as well.

After long violence, economic disaster and political ruins, this African country has been able to attract wildlife lovers from around the world.

The most popular wildlife viewing sight in Zimbabwe is enormous herds of elephant gathering at Hwange National Parks’s numerous waterholes.

If wildlife is your thing, Africa is the place to be and the above-mentioned African countries are always the destinations that you can’t miss out.

Plan your Africa trip today and make memories of lifetime.

TOP LUXURY SAFARI WILDLIFE ENCOUNTER

TOP LUXURY SAFARI WILDLIFE ENCOUNTER

Luxury Safari Wildlife: Luxury safaris in Africa are usually mostly about wildlife.

This is unsurprising considering the extraordinary wildlife sights you can see while there.

Often it is people’s desire to get a bit closer and really experience the feeling of being close to nature.

This can happen in several ways – elephant back safaris in Botswana and South Africa offer a chance to meet these gentle giants and explore the bush from their point of view.

Riding safaris which take place all over Africa also offer a similar option, your safari is very peaceful and game reacts naturally to your presence when on a horse.

Of course the mountain gorillas are very enticing.

Visit Rwanda or Uganda and trek the Volcanoes to come face to face with these heavily endangered human like mammals.

One can also track chimpanzees in Western Tanzania, collar lions in South Africa, track wild dog in Kenya.

All of this is blown out of the water when you come face-to-face with a family of habituated meerkats.

Luxury safari properties

Luxury safari properties San Camp, Jack’s Camp and Camp Kalahari in Botswana, as well as Tswalu Kalahari in South Africa all offer the chance to get out of the vehicle and relax with habituated families of meerkats in the morning or evening.

To hang out with these adorable creatures as they forage, play and interact like a small family of humans is nothing short of mesmerizing.

If you are lucky the appointed sentry will also politely climb onto your head so that he might get a better view of the surrounding area and any danger that might be present.

It is the meerkats mannerisms and general demeanor that is so endearing and one cannot fail to be completely charmed by them.

They have very human characteristics as they tell each other off, play and seemingly help each other negotiate the African bush.

It is a most enjoyable morning or afternoon spent lying in the sunshine watching these family groups go about their business around you.

For anyone who appreciates awe-inspiring scenery, magnificent animals, and a real sense of peace and tranquility, then a visit to the Maasai Mara National Reserve is an absolute must.

Spanning an area of some 1,510 square kilometers in Southwestern Kenya, it’s regularly touted as one of the most pristine nature reserves in the world.

With just over a four-hour transfer from the bustling metropolis of Nairobi, you will be given a chance to get up close and personal with some of the most majestic and beautiful animals on the planet.

Where to Stay in Maasai Mara

One of the great things about the Maasai Mara is that it remains unspoiled. At the same time, you don’t have to rough it.

Instead, luxury tented camps blend effortlessly in with the surroundings and can cater to your every whim.

Authentic lodges and campsites also give you the feeling of a real authentic African experience, but with the added luxuries of comfort, style, and elegance.

There are also a number of luxury hotels that are only a short commute away.

What to See at Maasai Mara

The gentle savannas and rolling grasslands make it exceptionally easy to spot wildlife while on safari. Leopards, rhinos, elephants, buffalo and of course lions all make the Maasai Mara their home.

Just imagine a beautiful sunset as the backdrop to a rare rhino drinking from a watering hole.

Or imagine witnessing a pride of lions stalking their prey.

gentle savannas and rolling grasslands

Great Migration

If you arrive between July and October, you can see the great migration.

This is where over 2 million wildebeest make their way from the vast plains of the Serengeti to the Maasai Mara in search of food and water.

Accompanying the wildebeest are often zebra and gazelle.

Of course, wherever they are, there will sure to be carnivores such as leopards and lions.

All of which get rich pickings to see them through the leaner months of the dry spell.

It’s a great balance in a delicate eco-system of life.

You can get the latest migration update right.

Maasai People

Although no longer allowed to make their homes in the reserve itself, Maasai people are a colorful and elegant race of people who live a nomadic existence.

For centuries they have lived in harmony with this amazing place.

They still have a huge presence in the area.

Nowadays, rather than hunting the game for food, many now work within the flourishing tourist trade and the many villages that are dotted around the Maasai Mara are now open to visitors.

Kenya will captivate you for so many reasons.

With an abundant array of flora, fauna, wildlife and people, the Maasai Mara is truly an enticing place.

It’s one in which will leave you with a plethora of stunning memories which will stay with you for many years to come.

Cape Town South Africa welcomed many new visitors from around the world and re-established itself as a great place for tourists to explore.

While it has been a firm favorite for many Europeans seeking to escape the depths of winter, many travelers’ eyes to the natural beauty and modern appeal of the ‘Mother City’.

Cape Town

It’s best to rent a small vehicle when you come to Cape Town, as everything is easily accessible by car.

This way you can comfortably explore the city’s surrounding areas and perhaps even take a drive along the Stellenbosch wine route.

If you’re planning on staying in the city center, however, you can use the recently implemented My Citi buses to get around, or take a taxi.

You can travel to Cape Town by plane, ship, train or cross-country by car.

Once you reach the city, there are various ways to get around the metropolis…especially biking South Africa

You can walk, take a taxi, hire a car or use the City Sightseeing bus, that gives you the option of hopping on and off at several major attractions that dotted the day.

If you are commuting, you can catch the My Citi bus from various points.

But prior to your trip, you need to buy a ‘myconnect’ bus card from the main station at the Civic Center in Hertzog Boulevard or from retailers along the area.

There are route timetables and up-to-date costs found in MyCiTi website.

While the city center is relatively safe during the day, it is important to remain vigilant and never walk alone at night.

Sights to see in Cape Town South Africa

majestic Table Mountain

Today, tourists find their way to this South African city for it is rewarding to see sculpted balconies filled with colorful blooms, streets lined with shady leafy trees, mosques with their onion-shaped domes and exotic minarets.

Like an open canvas of art, you encounter natural beauty or a visit to their museums that echoes the historical period of South African.

Cape Town is second among the most populous urban areas in South Africa.

Majestic Table Mountain

An absolute must-see when you’re in Cape Town is the view from atop the majestic Table Mountain, which you can either hike up or ride a cable car to the top.

Make sure to go on a clear, sunny day when you can see the beautiful sights of the city down below, without having clouds in your way.

If you enjoy historical buildings, don’t miss the Castle of Good Hope, which is the oldest surviving colonial building in South Africa.

Built in an interesting star shape, the building served as a fortress and has remained exceptionally well-preserved, allowing visitors to experience a relic first hand.

Clifton Beaches

The four beaches in Clifton are broken by giant granite boulders that are easily reached by steps found along Victoria Rd.

They provide the best spot for sunbathing as they are always sheltered from the wind.

Vendors hawk drinks and ice creams along the beach and sun loungers and shades are available.

District Six Museum

The museum displays a floor map that former residents labeled as their demolished homes.

It also showed where their former neighborhood once stood; as well as the reconstructions of home interiors.

There are exhibits of faded photographs and recordings.

Most museum staff, who was practically displaced residents themselves, has heartbreaking stories to tell.

Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens

These 52,800-sq-km botanical gardens are among the most beautiful in the world.

The Tree Canopy Walkway has a curvaceous steel and timber bridge that go up through the trees and provides amazing views.

There are more than 9000 of Southern Africa’s 22,000 plant species grown here.

See the elevated fragrance garden to sample the scents of the plants, walk a Braille trail, navigate through a kopje (hill) planted with pelargoniums and browse in a garden full of useful plants.

Mutual Heights

Clad in rose- and gold-veined black marble, the building contains the most impressive of the City Bowl’s collection of art deco structures.

It features one of the longest continuous stone friezes in the world, designed by Ivan Mitford-Barberton and sculptured by master stonemasons the Lorenzi brothers.

Much of the building’s original detail and decoration have been preserved, including the impressive central banking space but unfortunately not open for general viewing.

South African Jewish Museum

This museum is so secured that you need a photo ID to enter the compound that is not only an imaginatively designed museum but formerly a synagogue.

Built in 1905 in Neo-Egyptian style, it functions as a beautifully decorated Great Synagogue.

The museum partly occupies the beautifully restored Old Synagogue.

Marvel at the splendid and permanent exhibit of Japanese Art’s Hidden Treasures that showcased an exquisite collection of carved pieces of ivory and wood.

South Africa Museum

As the oldest museum, it contains a wide and often intriguing series of exhibits of the country’s natural history.

The best galleries showcased the art and culture of the area’s first peoples, the Khoekhoen and San.

There’s an extraordinary delicacy to the paintings, particularly the ones of graceful elands.

St. George Cathedral

Commonly known as the People’s Cathedral, this was one of the few places of worship that was open to people of all races during apartheid.

The interior is a cool retreat but search out for the Siyahamba Labyrinth in the cloisters that is a paved circular walking path to aid mediation and spiritual relief.

Designed by Sir Herbert Baker at the turn of the 19th century, mass then was often offered by the indomitable Archbishop Desmond Tutu; he also made the cathedral a focal point for the opposition during the tyrannical Afrikaner regime.

View and appreciate the exhibits around the Memory & Witness Center in the crypt

Cape Town South Africa Food & Entertainment

Food in Cape Town, South Africa

Cape Town has a great selection of international cuisines to offer, as well as traditional South African restaurants.

If you enjoy seafood, drive over to Hout Bay for delicious calamari on the seaside or grab some fresh fish at Minato Japanese sushi restaurant.

As the staple food, a typical family eats ‘pap’ –a fluffy porridge made from maize mixed with stew gravy.

Because South Africans love their food, Cape Town has a variety of restaurants.

A Rainbow cuisine is just right for a rainbow nation.

You have only to stroll down Long Street to savor various foods that South Africans enjoy.

Whatever your food choice is, from Italian to Mexican to Chinese, there is probably no country that isn’t being represented gastronomically.

For great burgers, Neighborhood and Royale Eatery on Long Street are popular picks, with Neighborhood offering great Mojitos (2 for 1 during happy hour!) and a fun bar vibe.

For some retail therapy, V&A Waterfront and Century City/Canal Walk boast a vast selection of stores and are also great places to go for restaurants, bars, cinemas, and local attractions.

Once the sun sets, Cape Town’s vibrant nightlife comes alive at clubs like Assembly, The Fez, and Mercury Live, promising the latest music and friendly people.

They love their meat preferably beef; meat is always the main portion of any meal.

Aside from grilled meat, they also have a penchant for dried meat, or Biltong.

South Africa Food Specialties

South Africa Biltong

This is made from salty dried meat usually beef or kudu, but also from ostrich and even rhino.

South Africa Bobotie

This Malay-origin dish is similar to your meatloaf, with raisins and baked egg on top; it is served with yellow rice, banana slices, and chutney.

South Africa Boerewors

This is the African version of a thick sausage that is traditionally braised.

South Africa Bunny Chow

A hollowed half-loaf of bread stuffed with curry.

South Africa Chakalaka

An Indian/Malay origin dish, this garnish or food accompaniment that is a mixture of carrots, cauliflower, garlic, ginger, green pepper and spiced with chilies and curry.

South Africa Koeksisters

This is Afrikaans twisted pastries that are deep fried and heavily sweetened.

South Africa Melktert

Tart or dessert made from milk.

South Africa Potjiekos

Are the traditional Afrikaans stew, made with meat, veggies and cooked over coals in cast-iron pots.

South Africa Rusks

Are the rectangular, hard and dry biscuits eaten with tea or coffee, like biscuits, they are dunk in warm beverages.

You can make your own, or buy them in any store.

South Africa Sosaties

Internationally called kebabs; they made from marinated meat grilled, on skewer.

South Africa Umngqusho

Is the staple food of the Xhosa people that consisted of sugar beans and white maize mixture.

South Africa Waterblommetjie

Is a meat stewed with the flower of the Cape Pondweed

After your trip to Cape Town South Africa, you’d have experienced almost everything possible from a nice guided city tour through an adrenaline kick in an old fighter jet.

Preserve those fond memories of your visit to the museums, food adventure in gastronomic restaurants savoring native delicacies, thrilling clubs, adventurous tours and a fun-filled walk into one of the visitor’s centers.

If there was only a fountain, you would have thrown coins to guarantee your return!

An Insider’s Guide To South Africa

South Africa.

I traveled there as a backpacker.

Worked there as a volunteer.

Lived there as a resident type person.

I’ve experienced a lot in South Africa.

I’ve seen racial harmony; I’ve observed racism.

I’ve been humbled by dignity in poverty; I’ve been robbed by people in poverty.

I’ve experienced human warmth; I’ve witnessed human cruelty.

I’ve seen the good and the bad of country.

And the strange.

In honor of the latter, here are a few curious, interesting and fun personal observations about South Africa.

South Africa is like a fantasy world map

Guide To South Africa is like a fantasy world map

You know the map of Middle-Earth in the Lord of the Rings books?

The map in the Game of Thrones novels?

South Africa is a bit like that.

I don’t mean it’s full of hobbits and dragons; I mean it embodies that fantasy trait of realms ranging from arid scrubland (Northern Cape) to lush forests (Mpumalanga), and from icy mountains (the Drakensberg range) to vast oceans (shout-out to the Atlantic and Indian).

Large exotic creatures no roam wild on the vast plains of South Africa, but the fantastical Big Five (lion, elephants, buffalo, leopard and rhino) remain ingrained in the nation’s culture.

Joburg looks like a city from a futuristic dystopian movie

I won’t start every entry like this, but you know those cities-of-the-future from 80’s films where everything has gone wrong?

The ones with high crime, boarded-up shops, people afraid to stop at red lights and fires in metal bins?

Like in Blade Runner or Demolition Man?

That’s what inner-city Johannesburg is like.

It’s not a place you want to spend a typical evening. Although, if you hang around long enough, perhaps you’ll meet Robocop…

Guide To South Africa

There Are So Many Languages

A lot of countries have more than one official language.

But 11?

Are you serious?!

Luckily, many people speak multiple languages, and there’s a lot of overlap.

Obviously, that’s not even going into regional dialect variations, but let’s not go nuts here.

My advice for backpackers?

Know English, learn some Afrikaans and pick up a few polite phrases for whichever place you’re in at the time.

Especially the tongue-click Xhosa.

It’s fun.

The Afrikaans accent is scary – but hot.

The Afrikaans language is a deep, throat-wrecking and Germanic-sounding drawl.

The result of this is that, when animated, Afrikaners can sound aggressive, powerful and… sexy.

It’s kind of like they’re giving you orders all the time, even when they’re just asking for a coffee.

It’s totally a preference thing, but while everyone likes to be seduced by French or Italian or another romantic language, sometimes you can’t beat a good hard… Afrikaans accent.

South Africa Rugby

Rugby is the national sport, or is it football?

Due to the juxtaposing cultures in the country, you’ll get a very different impression of sporting passion depending on who you’re with.

Whereas football is basically the national sport in England – black or white – in South Africa the number one sport for Afrikaners is rugby.

The beloved green-and-gold Springboks are the primary focus of white sport fans.

However, among the black population it’s all about soccer.

The national team, affectionately known as Bafana Bafana (the boys), are the pride and joy of the country.

Yes, yes, I know; you can’t just literally split sporting affiliation into black and white.

Except you can.

Sort of.

‘Black Taxi’ means something very different

I was really confused the first few times (white) people in South Africa referred to the combi van taxis that carry 15 -20 people at a time.

In the UK a ‘black taxi’ or ‘black cab’ is a universal mode of transport; they’re used by pretty much everybody.

Black taxis in South Africa are different; it’s considered a poor person’s way of getting around.

But, as a traveler, you shouldn’t be afraid of this.

Yes, it’s uncomfortable and involves lots of waiting around, but it’s a chance to travel as normal people travel.

I hate to use the phrase, but, like volunteering in Africa, catching a black taxi means you get a very authentic South Africa experience.

Africa Wildlife Parks

You can hang out with elephants and sharks in the same day

Because South Africa is like this magical fantasy place when it comes to wildlife, you’re basically incredibly spoiled; you could spend a morning diving with sharks and go on a game drive in the afternoon or evening.

Kruger National Park is the most famous national park, but the country is teeming with them, and you might have a better experience at one of the less popular ones.

Your Guide to Budget Travel In Africa

Africa is a continent bursting with possibilities for travel: diverse cultures, fascinating histories and vibrant communities.

Among the main reasons to travel in Africa are the breathtaking wildlife and natural beauty, the adventure and romance of safari, the deserts, jungles, mountains, and delight of the glittering coastline.

Exploring the continent can be done on any budget, and if you travel wisely it is possible to get by on surprisingly little.

While it would be impossible to cover all that the mighty continent has to offer in such short space, we hope it provides some indicators for destinations and activities during what should be a trip of a lifetime.

When to Go and Weather

Africa is a vast continent straddling the equator and as such has varied climates and contrasting seasons.

Travelers usually time visits to avoid the height of the rainy seasons and the ravaging temperatures at the peak of the hot seasons, but these weather patterns change from region to region.

North Africa is at its best, and coolest

During October to March.

Sub-Saharan Africa is best for travelling between rainy seasons.

In East Africa it is dry from December to March and again in and June to October.

West Africa is dry in October to May, but also extremely hot during these months.

Central Africa is dry from June to September.

In the South, the dry season is from May to June and the rainy season is from November to May; between these seasons, around October, southern Africa is ferociously hot.

Enjoy African Action, Adventure and Stunning Wildlife In An Affordable Way

For many travelers the principle reason for travelling in Africa is to experience the astonishing diversity of wildlife, most famously by going on safari.

Safari packages vary greatly in price, but a basic minibus and camping trip out in the wilderness – while relatively costly, gives value for money in terms of the amount of animals you get to see.

Walking safaris are great for getting up close with nature, and often cheap too!

Generally, safaris in the national parks of western and southern Africa such as Kruger and Etosha are more affordable than the more famous parks of the Serengeti and Massai Mara in the east.

Bird watching is also a big wildlife attraction due to the incredible number of bird species across Africa, and during the months of November to March the numbers swell as native birds are joined by migratory varieties.

Birds inhabit every part of Africa, so bird watching is an affordable way to see the continent’s wildlife.

Africa is home to many primates including mankind’s closest relatives: the chimps and gorillas.

Trips to visit the apes in Rwanda, Uganda, Cameroon and Tanzania can be the experience of a lifetime, but don’t come cheap.

Primate tracking in Gabon and Gambia are generally more affordable options.

There are endless possibilities for hiking in Africa, taking in all types of terrain and climate, and an affordable way to take in the scenery.

The spectacular peaks of the Atlas Mountains in Morocco and a week spent walking the slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania are particularly fine hiking opportunities.

Africa’s Great Lakes

Albert, Victoria, Nyasa and Tanganyika – offer enormous possibilities for exploration of the wildlife and cultures of past and present that have grown around them.

On the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe, the awesome power of nature can be seen at Victoria Falls, which is one of the largest waterfalls in the world.

The Zambezi River, which cascades through the falls, is a center for water sports and adventure pursuits in Africa, and there are activities to suit any budget.

Marrakech is famous for its shopping, and has an abundance of hand made lamps.

They make them on the back streets and corners around town, but few know that much of it, though not all, is child labor

Lamps In Marrakech

For African film the biannual FESPACO in Burkina Faso is probably the continent’s biggest festival, taking place during February and March.

South Africa’s Durban International Film Festival is also an important showcase, taking place each June.

Tips on Budgeting In Africa

Keep accounts

By keeping a record of all you costs you can plan ahead for your travels, allow yourself a daily allowance and make preparations for bigger outlays.

Plan big expenses in advance

While you can keep your daily expenses relatively low during your travels in Africa there will be occasions when it’s worth paying a bit more money such as going on safari, long-distance travel or treating yourself to a night in a more luxurious hotel.

Plan ahead for these moments, before you start travelling if possible, so you know exactly how much money you need for bigger expenses.

Be flexible

Traveling in Africa should be a trip of a lifetime, so be prepared to be flexible with your budget.

There will be times when spending a bit more is worthwhile such as picking a guide and transport for going safari.

It’s also wise to have some cash set aside for an emergency.

Haggle

Many merchants in Africa expect their customers to bargain for their goods, so learning to haggle is a great skill to have.

Work out how much you’re willing to pay for an item before haggling, and by remaining polite and friendly throughout the bargaining all parties should come out of a haggle happy.

Spend ethically

There is a great deal of poverty in Africa, and as a tourist you will often be seen as much richer than the locals and be expected to pay more.

You shouldn’t take offense to this, and by spending wisely you can help ease this inequality.

Buy and pay for local services and good so local people benefit, and if you want to help people begging in the streets then donate some money to a local charity.

If you spend wisely you can enjoy Africa on an affordable budget and hopefully also bring some happiness to those who live in the lands through which you travel.

South Africa’s Best Cities

South Africa is a diverse country that’s probably most famous for being a top safari destination.

While it is, without doubt, an unparalleled place to see the big five, it’s also home to some of the world’s most exciting cities – a fact that I think can sometimes be overlooked.

Hopefully, this will inspire you to hop on a plane and visit one of them for your next holiday!

And, if it does, you can find a brilliant selection of luxurious accommodation through Wanderforth.

With that in mind, I’ve put together a guide to three of South Africa’s most vibrant, exciting and memorable metropolises.

Cape Town

I think Cape Town is probably the best-known city in South Africa and it is, in my opinion, one that definitely deserves its fame.

As well as being the provincial capital of the Western Cape, it is home to a huge wealth of attractions, from natural wonders like Table Mountain to beautiful beaches populated with penguins.

Cape Town

My absolute favorite thing about Cape Town is Boulders Beach, the home of the aforementioned colony of African penguins, who have lived here since the 1980’s.

Coming here to see them waddling around and swimming is a must and, if you’re really lucky, you’ll find yourself paddling beside them when you take a dip.

Just as a quick tip, this beach is part of Table Mountain National Park, so you’ll need to pay a small fee to get in.

Durban

If your idea of the perfect city combines varied urban attractions with an absolutely stunning coastline, I think you’ll find it difficult to discover a destination better than Durban.

This city lies on the edge of a coastline bathed in warm Indian Ocean waters, and as a consequence the shore here is a divine place for sunbathing and swimming.

Durban

As we’re focusing on cities rather than beaches today, I’ll try not to get too caught up in talking about various stretches of sand!

Aside from the beaches, Durban’s attractions include its wonderfully diverse culture; you should be able to discern Zulu and Indian, as well as South African, influences.

Should you fancy experiencing a little of the luxurious lifestyle, make sure you spend some time at Wilson’s Wharf.

This charming area is home to a great mix of restaurants and high-end shops, as well as acting as a splendid summer venue for musical and theatrical events.

Johannesburg

Last on the list is the incredibly vibrant, diverse and historically rich Johannesburg – the ultimate place to come if you want a jam-packed break.

Think exploring nationally important cultural attractions during the day and partying hard at night.

Among the most fascinating options for the former is visiting the Apartheid Museum, which tells the story of 20th-century South Africa.

This does, of course, mean it has a strong focus on apartheid, but the establishment does look at the broader national history too.

Johannesburg

If you want to spend a day or two doing something a little more light-hearted, head to Gold Reef City.

Packed with fast-paced rides like Tower of Terror and Anaconda, it is also somewhere the kids can enjoy a spot of dressing up in period costume.

Be sure to stay vigilant in Johannesburg and plan your trip ahead of time.

With some pre-planning, you can have an amazing time!

Night Owls Guide to Namibia, Africa

Forget about any misconceptions you may have, because Namibia, Southern Africa is up and coming on the tourist scene in a major way.

That’s right, there is somewhere other than the big African cities of Johannesburg and Nairobi where you can experience all night partying and top class eateries, with a healthy and sometimes overpowering African influence thrown into the mix.

I for one love to explore, which is why if you are looking for something totally different and some of the most stunning scenery in the whole continent.

The young country of Namibia, Southern Africa can deliver an unrivaled experience that will take even the most experienced travelers’ breath away, and provide a contrasting nightlife suitable for all no matter your expectations.

Windhoek – Little Germany

Namibia’s central Highlands’s capital Windhoek

Africa as a continent has been heavily influenced – mainly negatively – by its colonial past.

Any traveler flying into Namibia’s central Highlands’s capital Windhoek will be immediately met by heavy German influences, which as a result has led to the city becoming a beacon to the rest of the continent on just how an Africa city can thrive if it uses colonial influences to its advantage.

Hotels in Namibia and Windhoek will not exactly be packed full of western tourists – something that I’m sure will appeal to many travelers looking for a true African experience.

But there will be plenty of faces milling around on the search for Namibia’s nightspots.

The city may not exactly seem buzzing at first glance, but it can offer first class food.

Which unsurprisingly is based on German cuisine – as well as several lively party venues.

Club Thriller does not enjoy the best location – in fact new visitors to Namibia, Southern Africa may well think it looks a bit rough on arrival.

But it does provide a nice mix of African and European music and a fairly relaxed atmosphere.

Funky Lab is a more popular nightspot and the Jass Bar is a sophisticated venue where you can enjoy a nice cigar and a pleasant conversation in a part of Africa few have explored.

If you can, visit this city in March or April, when the month long German carnival is in town.

It’s a real experience not to be missed if possible.

Cheap and Cheerful Swakopmund

Hotels in Namibia can vary, but if you decide to stay in the interesting city of Swakopmund there is no way you’ll break the bank as everything is so cheap!

Hotels in Namibia and Swakopmund in particular can charge around £5 per room, which is great value.

You can sample the local beer for under a £1 and in most places you can fill yourself up on huge steaks for under a fiver.

Not bad, eh?

When it comes to nightlife, there are plenty of options in this small but buzzing city.

If you want to follow the locals and any travelers who are in town, head to Gruner Kranz.

Here you’ll find pool tables, beautiful girls, cheap beer and shots all accompanied by good music suited to all tastes.

The city is safe and is a good beacon of Namibia, Southern Africa as a whole, so forget about it being bandit country or unsafe for tourists.

Just relax with the locals and enjoy true African nightlife every night of the week!

So there you have it – Namibia, Southern Africa in a nutshell.

Expect the unexpected by all means, but expect a thrilling holiday above all else!

Savor The Taste Of Namibia, Southern Africa

When my boyfriend and I decided to venture to Namibia Southern Africa I was more than a little concerned about what I was going to eat, being a vegetarian.

Like any devoted carnivore my boyfriend attempted to quash my fears with the ‘they’ll always be salad’ argument, which made me even more irate.

But I shouldn’t have been so worried, there were hundreds of amazing food places in Namibia.

Although undeniably meat orientated, many of the restaurants had a large vegetarian section, so vast in fact that I often found it difficult to choose!

One restaurant I would recommend in particular is Homstead in Windheok.

As long as you’re not indecisive (the menu is one of the most diverse I’ve seen) then this is the perfect place for all tastes.

The food is also pretty unusual, my boyfriend had a crocodile fondue for example, while I went for a deliciously flavored vegetable curry dish.

The herbs and vegetables used were all freshly grown in their garden, and the restaurant had a very wholesome, earthy vibe.

The setting was beautiful, you could either sit in their idyllic garden and bird watch while you ate, or dine in the historical house built in 1906.

They even had a wine cellar and some interesting liquors to sample, though be warned they can be pretty strong!

For a more international flavor I would recommend O Portuga restaurant, also in Windheok.

These dishes are based on Portuguese cuisine and the flavors are absolutely out of this world!

My boyfriend had a mammoth meat kebab, which literally towered over us!

Apparently it was one of the best kebabs he’d ever had, and he doesn’t praise meat lightly.

In an attempt at bravado, he also tried Piri Piri (a really fiery flavored chili).

If you like chili these are something else, but if you’re only trying to be manly avoid them at all costs, it was great entertainment for me though.

For my main meal I decided on the salmon steak cooked in mixed vegetables.

Although I usually try not to eat fish I could not help sampling this delicious dish, and the guilt was well worth it, the fish was succulent and the flavors were stunning.

For pudding we shared the petite gateaux, which had the perfect ratio of chocolate to vanilla ice cream, and was warmed to perfection.

It was so heavenly in fact that we soon found ourselves fighting over the last morsel.

Although I was initially skeptical about what the food in my destination Namibia might be like, I was quickly won over by its deliciously exotic flavors.

Unfortunately for my waistband, I never even contemplated a salad!

11 Top South Africa Bike Trails

South Africa Bike Trails and Off road biking is an increasingly popular sport in South Africa, and little wonder with the fantastic weather in this country and the stunning natural scenery.

Coupled with excellent infrastructure and fabulous accommodation, and a biking holiday with friends or your family can be a memorable and healthy way to spend your time.

There are literally hundreds of mountain bike trails across the country, from the valleys of the Magaliesberg in Gauteng and the extraordinary scenic beauty of the Drakensberg to the spectacular landscape of the Cape Winelands and the picturesque villages along the Garden Route.

Find a mountain bike or road bicycle on Gum tree South Africa and explore some of these glorious spots:

Magaliesberg Bike Trails South Africa

The Magaliesberg, outside of Johannesburg and Pretoria, has mountains and valleys and great bush to cycle through.

Hit the local tourist offices and get a map of the routes on offer for a great outdoor experience.

In KwaZulu-Natal is the really pretty Midlands Meander route.

Here, you can spend a few days running along the R103 from Estcourt into the pretty town of Howick, taking in the Howick Falls, Karkloof, and the hills and dales of the sugar cane plantations.

The Drakensberg is just wonderful and accommodation is really superb.

If you are a little more serious about your sport, you can join the Sani Pass Bike Epic, taking you to the top of Africa, and also the Volvo Classic.

Outside of Johannesburg towards Heidelberg is the Suikerbosrand Nature Reserve, offering over 60 kilometers of challenging and fascinating nature trails with great opportunities to view animals and birds.

Sabie in Mpumalanga is a wonderful spot with hilly and challenging routes taking you to spectacular waterfalls and the Blyde River Canyon.

Accommodation is quaint, and the hospitality in this part of the world is excellent.

Table Mountain South Africa Bike Trails

The Garden Route offers a range of short and long cycle trails all along its string of great little towns, including Knysna and Wilderness with great seascape views or inland trails along lakes and rivers.

The South Coast south of Durban is also a biker’s paradise.

Trails along Port Edward are well known for the challenging ride, great scenery, and wonderful warm Indian Ocean at your doorstep for a refreshing swim.

Hogsback South Africa Bike Trails

Table Mountain in the Cape is a great place too for a weekend cycle with fabulous views of the city, the waterfront, and the beaches of this great mother city, all within a short ride of your hotel or family accommodation.

Hogsback in the Eastern Cape is a lovely place with a different natural setting.

You’ll find beautiful open landscapes as well as a lovely sense of history and charm in this old farming community.

While in the Eastern Cape, you can ride the Owl House cycle route which is a nice day or two of cycling.

You can visit the famous Owl House while on your tour.

The Cape Winelands area is also lovely.

The difficult Hellshoogte Pass between Stellenbosch and the R45 on the Winelands route will give you a great weekend of mountain biking South Africa Bike Trails.

South Africa’s Garden Route

Alongside the bustling inner-city hubs of Cape Town and Johannesburg, you may have heard individuals refer to South Africa’s Garden Route as an outstanding South African holiday destination for picturesque negotiations of the Rainbow Nation.

But what is the South Africa’s Garden Route exactly?

Well of course, it is a route on its own merit but in reality it is so much more than that.

It is a fascinating journey taking in the incredible splendor of South Africa’s south eastern coast embracing the adjacent Atlantic Ocean but also incredible broad leaf forests, premium golf courses, idyllic bays and adrenaline filled pursuits.

With a surprise around most corners, let us let you in on five things you may not know about this classic South African journey!

South Africa’s Garden Route

How did the route earn its name?

The Garden Route earns its friendly and hospitable title in respect of the diverse vegetation and wetland areas that mark the makeup of the region intercepted by the highway itself.

Fynbos biome describes the indigenous vegetation that adds color to the route.

To provide a concise history lesson, this rare variety of plant species came to being due to the last ice age – occurring 10,000 years ago – obliterating the survival of such species in the northern hemisphere, hence the wonder of such sightings in South Africa.

The route boasts the second mildest climate on the entire planet!

Second only to the American island state of Hawaii, South Africa’s Garden Route is the silver medal in respect of boasting the mildest climate in the world.

Of course, this is fantastic in respect of the area maintaining its allure as a fulfilling year-round holiday destination with temperatures in the middle of winter averaging around 19 degrees and the midsummer – 28 degrees.

Be sure to bring your brolly however, as the green rain forest thrives due to year-round rainfall.

How long is the route itself?

The Garden Route is approximately 200 kilometers or 124 miles in length, meaning it’s generally advised that any sole visit shouldn’t complete the route in one go.

Why would you want to anyway with numerous intriguing stop off points such as Nature’s Valley – a unique coastal holiday village in respect of actually being entirely surrounded by the greenery of the Tsitsikamma National Park.

Which is the biggest settlement on the route?

George is both the South Africa’s Garden Route’s largest settlement and also the administrative hub underpinning the region.

Located roughly halfway between Cape Town and Port Elizabeth, the city resides in the shadow of the dramatic Outeniqua Mountains with a viewing platform at the Outeniqua Pass ensuring travelers can marvel at the sun kissed coast.

The Garden Route boasts some outstanding wineries

South Africa is famed for her wine trade and the South Africa’s Garden Route boasts numerous wineries such as Mons Ruber Estate located close by to De Rust.

Sample the local produce but of course, make sure you have a designated driver to continue on along the route!

Best Countries for Adventure Travel – The more adventurous things I try, the more I want to experience – when you travel you get to experience some amazing adventures, some simply seem to happen to you when you head out on the streets, while others are more planned adventures like sky diving, going on a Kilimanjaro trek, a 2 week surf trip, or visit the “Parijs van Java”, or the Paris of Java, and hike along the edge of the Tangkuban Perahu Crater, and stay at the Hilton Bandung and after your various adventures enjoy the ultimate relaxation at the Hilton’s Jiwa Spa in Bandung, Indonesian.

The more I travel, the more I dream of new places I want to visit and things I want to experience – dreams inspire me to go out there and live life to the fullest, and often I’ve dreamed of things that a few months or years later have become a reality.

We all like different kinds of adventures, some suit us and some don’t – here is a list of some awesome adventurous countries & activities for everyone.

Best Countries for Adventure Travel

New Zealand bunge jumping Adventure Travel

New Zealand – For Those Who Want A Bit Of Everything

New Zealand is like a playground for all things adventurous – from extreme sports to some of the most amazing hiking or relaxing sea kayaking.

First man to climb Mt Everest, the man who “invented” bungee jumping, the invention of Zorbing – don’t ask me why these crazy ideas all come from Kiwis, but if you’re into this kind of thing, New Zealand is the place to go.

Sky diving over Fox Glacier, bungee jumping in Queenstown, multi day treks in Able Tasman – it’s all there for you to explore.

Indonesia – For Surfing Addicts

Best Countries for Adventure Travel

Indonesia has some crazy surf and you can spend a whole week or even two on a boat together with a group of like-minded people, a guide and a chef who cooks all your meals.

You travel between surf spots, surfing all day long and at the same time get to explore the amazing Indonesian islands – for those who love surfing, this is the ultimate adventure holiday.

USA/Alaska – For Ski Bums and Winter Lovers

Alaska, especially Valdez, is famous for its incredible heli-skiing opportunities, making it possible for you to ski down deep powder snow in otherwise unreachable places, and spend the evenings in cozy huts that are literally in the middle of nowhere.

In this region, whether you go skiing, dog-sledding or go sea kayaking through the glaciers, you get to be one with nature.

Vanuatu – For Exotic Island Adventure

Vanuatu Exotic Island Adventure travel

Vanuatu is that paradise island that you have always pictured in your head or have saved as a screensaver on your desktop.

And you know that empty beach you’ve dreamed of?

There are plenty of them in Vanuatu…

Vanuatu is a dream for people looking for adventure travel.

There is a reason why Survivor has been filmed there so many times, because it is so easy to get away from civilization and reach seemingly untouched nature.

If you have the money to afford it, you can cash out on an adventure to an active volcano, or spend stay a few nights with an ancient tribe in the jungle on one of the many remote islands.

Norway – For Jumping Nutcases

Maybe it’s this care free mindset and the incredible fjords surrounding them that has made them want to dive right into it – literally…

In Voss, right in the middle of Norway’s most spectacular fjord landscape, the town of Voss has become the capital of what in my eyes is the absolute craziest sport that I have ever encountered – wing suit base jumping.

Watching this sport is enough for me, but if you’re crazy enough and have your own sky diving license, then you could try it too.

There are fortunately other ways to enjoy the nature, cliffs and fjords – you can go river-boarding, rafting, kayaking or even cliff jumping.

Dream Travel Adventures: Paragliding in Cape Town, South Africa

Dream Travel Adventures Paragliding in Cape Town, South Africa

The best photos I’ve seen of Cape Town have all been from above, the city is just breath taking, especially with the beautiful coast line and lush hills surrounding the city.

So I can’t imagine a better place to para-glide than in Cape Town, and a chance to take in the views in peace and quiet.

Horse Back Riding in Iceland

HorseBack Riding in Iceland

I admit that last time I rode a horse, I didn’t have the best experience, and that annoyed me – I used to horse ride as a child, and I wish I wouldn’t have quit so early – today I dream of galloping along beaches and beautiful landscapes, although maybe on a smaller horse than on my previous horse riding trip in Portugal.

Going horse riding in Iceland’s Golden Circle past waterfalls, hot springs, geysers and lava fields on the small but strong Icelandic horses seems like the most amazing experience.

Helicopter Tour in Hawaii

Helicopter Tour in Hawaii

With its unique volcanic landscape, cliffs, beaches and craters, Hawaii has an incredible nature that I can’t wait to experience.

And seeing it all from above in a helicopter would be epic!

It would be a great opportunity to see remote places that you normally wouldn’t be able to reach, and flying in a helicopter is half the fun..!

So large you can see it from space, the Great Barrier reef is almost like an “underwater country”, comprising 400 separate reefs, cays and islands – with over 1500 species of fish and 1500 shipwrecks – the Great Barrier Reef sounds like my kind of playground!

But I would like to do more than just an overnight trip to scuba dive – the dream would be to spend a couple of weeks sailing around the reefs and go snorkeling and diving at my own pace.

Dream Travel Adventures: Bike Down The Death Road in Bolivia

Bike Down The Death Road in Bolivia

We’ve written about it before, and when Andrew Tipp wrote a guest post on our site it really inspired me to want to do the trip myself and bike down the Death Road in Bolivia – not only are the surroundings beautiful, but I like a road with a bit of gritty history and it would definitely be an experience to remember.

Destinations For the Adventurous Traveler

Destinations For the Adventurous Traveler – There are many unusual holiday destinations that once were the privilege of pioneers, and those brave or crazy enough to venture onto the rugged shores.

But let’s forget about the budgeting and dream for a bit, after all the stuff that doesn’t come easy is often the most rewarding once you finally accomplish it.

Given the fact that we work so hard throughout the year, the need to enjoy our annual summer holiday is vital.

Whether we plan to spend a long weekend in the countryside, a week’s cycling on rural roads or a fortnight relaxing on a sandy beach, we want to have a good time from the very first moment right through to the last.

Going on holiday is generally an expensive process, but it’s one that in most cases is well worth the cost.

Every man and women who goes away may be looking for something unique to them, of course, but in the main we are looking to spend time doing what we like doing, and in the process to create memories that last forever.

Even those travelers who are looking for rest and recuperation will want to take part in at least one or two activities during their trip, so it makes sense to look for a little something to do when they have spent enough time on the sun-lounger.

Topping up the tan is all very well, but after a while you need to get up and do something fun.

Take part activities and Destinations For the Adventurous Traveler to make your holiday an unforgettable one

Some holiday-makers will head to the local golf course in order to enjoy a few hours on the lush fairways while others may head out to sea to savoir some windsurfing.

Of all the highly enjoyable activities to try, however, surely you have to consider a Segway driving experience, because people of all ages should try this at least once.

Top Adventure Spots While Cruising Antarctica

Explore Antarctica for an adventurous travel insight of an unforgettable wilderness lifestyle you will never forget.

Learn about the early explorers of Antarctica, the weather patterns and seasons, whales, penguins and other types of birds and wildlife and so much more while sailing one of the Antarctica Cruises and Antarctica Cruise Tips through this vast continent and the islands surrounding it.

top adventure spots you’ll want to check out.

Explore Falkland Island, South Georgia Island and Antarctica

The best time for whale watching is between early February and March which is in late summer in Antarctica.

Explore Falkland Island, South Georgia Island and Antarctica

Falkland Islands are home to wildlife such as penguins, seals, petrels, gulls, albatross and more, and the scenery is amazing.

Enjoy kayaking amidst icebergs near South Georgia and take in the beauty of a wilderness setting that is otherwise known as paradise.

Whether kayaking or aboard a zodiac, enjoy the peace and quiet of this vast wilderness landscape.

The Antarctica Peninsula

The Antarctica Peninsula is less than 2 days from southern Argentina.

You can camp on the ice, go scuba diving, hiking, shoe shoeing, skiing and kayaking in the Antarctic Peninsula.

This wonderful wilderness experience is one you may have only dreamed of and is a wonderful experience for those who love an adventure.

Antarctica Peninsula

Take your camera to photograph the seals, large colonies of penguins, and stop at one of many whale watching stations along the way.

Land on the Continent of Antarctica

Courting rituals among seals and penguins take place during the months of November and early December.

These are the warmest months in Antarctica and by January the chicks are hatching.

The seal and penguin pups can be seen here in late January.

Sail through Drake Passage

Sail through Drake Passage, see the South Olney Islands, the South Shackleton Islands and Commonwealth Bay on the way back to Buenos Aires.

Side trips to Buenos Aires, Iguazu Falls and Mendoza Wine Country are available.

Iguazu Falls is known as the 8th Wonder of the World while Mendoza is a quaint historic village surrounded by beautiful vineyards.

Buenos Aires, Argentina

In Buenos Aires, Argentina, colorful houses, historical artifacts and landmarks and a lively lifestyle are amazing.

The amazing icebergs and glaciers and many types of birds and wildlife greet you each day.

Off The Grid Holiday: Antarctica

This is where you can check out colonies of penguins, seals, whales, as well as birds like petrels, fulmars and shearwaters – or float about in the ice water in a dry suit.

Antarctica’s bewitching atmosphere of sheer blue cliffs of ice, and the immense silence will surely win a place in your heart.

It’s possible to either fly in or take a ship to Antarctica during the southern summer.

Be warned though, it doesn’t come too cheap to follow in the footsteps of Scott and Amundsen.

Off The Grid Holiday: Papua New Guinea

Destinations For the Adventurous Traveler

While you are in the southern hemisphere, check out the rugged and untouched wilderness of Papua New Guinea.

The country features great jungle terrain, mountains and beaches that are perfect for hiking, fishing, diving, surfing and local wildlife spotting.

Go during the traditional ceremonies at Goroka and Mount Hagen for local singing and dancing demonstrations.

Then you can bed down in a local village along with local people: this is a great way to immerse yourself in the culture, just remember to be respectful of local customs.

Off The Grid Holiday: Finnish Lapland

Off The Grid Holiday: Finnish Lapland

For a journey into a strange and magical world that’s a little closer to home, consider Finnish Lapland: there are plenty of off-beat activities to enjoy in the traditional home of Santa.

There is a unique atmosphere in Finland’s countryside and the alpine trees are some of the oldest in the world here, with one tree in Inari known to be 529 years old.

If you go there during the summer, it’s possible to pan for gold.

Finland is the last country in Europe where there’s a profession of gold prospecting still goes on.

Also make sure to tuck into some delicious pies made from berries only available in the arctic region: lingonberries, cloudberries and crowberries – I highly suggest searching out the cloudberries, they’re the most delicious berries you will ever eat!

3 Amazing Holiday Locations to Experience a Volcano

Many of the most popular island destinations were created by a volcano and are now home to beautiful sand beaches, diving, surfing, and amazing local culture.

You can add adventure to your stay on these islands by participating in activities that get you close to the volcano.

Here are 3 amazing holiday spots where you can experience a volcano:

Hawaii Volcano

Hawaii Volcano

While taking a holiday vacation in Hawaii in The Aloha State, you will want to visit Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.

Located on The Big Island, this impressive park is home to Kilauea, one of the most active volcanoes in the world.

“One of the best experiences is to sit on dried lava rock and watch lava pour into the Pacific Ocean – it is a remarkable site!”

You should also carve out some time to explore caves and craters.

Another active volcano in the park is Mauna Loa.

The majestic mountain is the largest active volcano in the world. Do not forget your camera because you will want to capture the stunning landscape.

Bali Volcano

The gorgeous island of Bali contains two popular active volcanoes, Mount Batur and Mount Agung.

The scenery and natural beauty of these volcanoes is stunning.

You can view the mountains while riding in a helicopter, hike up the mountain, or even venture inside the crater.

The views at Lake Batur are picturesque, and it is a perfect place to enjoy a spectacular sunrise or sunset.

Bali Volcano

Numerous restaurants offer local cuisine and an observation deck is available.

The views from the top of the volcano are simply breathtaking, and it will be a Bali holiday to remember.

Vanuatu volcano

Situated in the southwest Pacific Ocean, Vanuatu is a beautiful island and also home to several active volcanoes.

Ambrym volcano in Vanuatu

One of the most fascinating places to visit is the lava lakes at the Ambrym volcano, a holiday in Vanuatu would clearly be an experience of a lifetime.

This pristine area of the world is the perfect place to take a relaxing holiday.

Some of the most active volcanoes in Vanuatu include Ambae, Ambrym, Lopevi and Yasur.

Here you can experience ash planes, shock waves, and exploding lava.

“The power of the explosions is magnificent. You will feel as if you were in a science fiction movie.”

Formula One Races

Best Formula One Races To Travel To

Every car enthusiast’s dream is to experience a Formula One race in the flesh.

There’s nothing as thrilling as a field of super-cars screaming around the track, their unique sound a tribute to the pinnacle of mechanical and automotive engineering made flesh.

As the battle between the top drivers for the ultimate glory of winning the Grand Prix unfolds, spectators are held in riveting suspense throughout each and every race.

Packed with unrelenting thrills and spills, Formula One continues to be at the forefront of heart-stopping action, and there’s no better place to experience this than at the track.

Here are the best F1 races to travel to around the world…

Australia Formula One Races

2013 may be the last chance to watch the F1 action at Albert Park, located in the thriving cosmopolitan city of Melbourne.

With the famous ‘four seasons in a day’ climate, the racing is always on edge and full of suspense as teams face the prospect of rapid changes between a wet and dry track.

If you’re looking for a holiday while watching the F1, Melbourne is definitely one of the best locations to see all the sights once the racing stops.

Due to the proximity of everything, you can ski in the morning, play in the surf by afternoon, and watch the sun set over the rolling hills in one of the famous vineyards by night.

Monaco Formula One Races

There’s no denying the glitz and glamour of F1, and at no other track is this more apparent than at Monaco.

Every year at race time, the harbor fills with prestigious yachts, owned by celebrities and businessmen hosting extravagant parties once night falls.

This is a tight and very technical track, known to test the elite skills of the driver more than merely the technology of the cars.

Monaco is steeped in automotive racing history, and is a must-see for any fans wanting to explore the heart of F1 racing.

Singapore Formula One Races

Known as the “Jewel in the F1 Racing Crown”, Singapore hosts an unforgettable experience for all fans.

The F1 was first held at the new Marina Bay Circuit two years ago, and was the first Grand Prix to ever be hosted at night.

This night racing is one of the reasons Singapore is an event simply not to be missed in the F1 calendar.

Great Britain Formula One Races

The new, fast-flowing circuit at Silverstone is definitely a must-see for F1 fans.

Developed by top automotive architects in conjunction with top drivers and MotoGP riders, as well as incorporating advanced scientific research, the resulting track improvements guarantee some of the fastest racing in the world.

The developments also bring spectators closer to the action, and have increased the number of grandstands around the track.

With three new overtaking opportunities built into the circuit, Silverstone promises to deliver tight, suspenseful racing from start to finish.

No matter where you go to watch an F1 race, you will have the experience of a lifetime.

That being said, these are a several of the most memorable circuits which every F1 fan has to at least see once.

From the glamour and history of Monaco to the contemporary night racing in Singapore, Grand Prix continues to delight fans worldwide with non-stop action and excitement.

Group Adventures Tours to Europe, Asia or Africa you might want to add to your bucket list:

Traveling is such a fun experience, why not plan a Group Adventures tour for some extra fun?

Overseas destinations can be quite the adventure when you can include your family or your friends.

Europe is a top destination for group tours, just a jump across the pond and you’re in for some amazing destinations combined with great company, interesting new cultures and tons of fun activities.

If you’re about to make plans, there are some neat options and top tours to Europe offered by adventure specialists.

One tour that you’ll never forget would be a visit to Israel and Jordan.

You can explore Petra – the City with a Forgotten Past, also known as Red Rose City.

Group Adventures Petra

Because it’s situated near the Dead Sea you can enjoy spending the night at a resort hotel on the beautiful spa like mineral springs.

You and your family will be fed well and pampered while enjoying days full of adventure.

Then its off to visit biblical sites in Jordan, the Jerash ruins and Moses Promised Land.

Have you always wanted to visit Africa? Take an East African safari and stay in a mobile tent camp.

You and your friends can watch the Great Migration of animals as they cross through Tanzania and Kenya plains, or take a Hemingway Safari to see the animals cross the Serengati and Masai Mara.

There are many options for both group tours and independent tours, both full of outdoor adventure.

If Britain and Ireland have been on your travel list for a while, this is another tour you can consider.

Some packages begin in London and go on through the country to Stratford Upon Avon where Shakespeare was born.

You can visit locations such as York Minister, the Yorkshire Dales National Park and go on to Saint Oswald’s Church.

Glasgow, Dublin, Edinburgh and Belfast can also be part of your adventure while taking a ferry to these northern cities in Ireland.

Malaysia and Singapore are favorite place to visit and so full of culture and excitement.

Kuala Lumpur is such an interesting destination and is absolutely amazing with it’s busy city, shopping and crafty markets.

The landscapes in this destination are simply stunning, the perfect country to have some fun adventures with your friends or family.

Climb Mount Kinabula, tour the Mulu caves, or check out Turtle Island for memories that you’ll take with you throughout a lifetime.

You can also see the Cameron Highlands and even travel into Singapore while on a Malaysian tour.

It is said that variety is the spice of life, a guided tour can be a great experience.

Most services understand your need to explore and will plan out your Group Adventures.

This helps you focus on having fun and making memories as well as having the freedom to explore, shop, eat and soak in a new interesting culture.

Guides repeat this over and over to climbers on treks up Africa’s great mountains, Mt. Kenya and Mt. Kilimanjaro.

The point is that it’s not about being the first one up the mountain, because the mountain isn’t going anywhere.

What’s important is just to be making the climb.

Showing patience in these situations removes stress, and for a backpacker adopting this attitude can be therapeutic.

Learn that anything is possible

If there’s something you want to do, all you have to do is ask.

In most cases, people will go out of their way to allow the exchange of knowledge and ideas.

In East Africa, the red tape we’re accustomed to in the U.S. is incredibly reduced, whereas things can get so bogged down in the Western World by process.

East Africa School

Want to paint a school?

Just ask.

Want to teach a preschool or computer class?

Chances are the school administrators will not only clear the schedule with as much time as you need, but the students will also provide a welcome ceremony that would fill any traveler’s heart.

Be part of the action

In East Africa, it’s not unusual for something out of the ordinary to be constantly happening.

There is always a stunning landscape to inspire awe, or a bull elephant to stalk your bus at the roadside because the route winds through a National Park.

East Africa School National Park Lions

There could be a woman unflinchingly handing you her second youngest child to hold, as she breast feeds her youngest right next to you.

In times like this, one cannot help but just be absolutely in the moment.

In the West, we have a tendency to be disengaged.

We rely on smart phones to avoid really interacting with the people and environment around us.

But no one is isolated while backpacking through East Africa.

To thrive you must be agile and present in that very moment.

Small talk is big talk

Everyone stops and asks one another how they are doing.

Many East Africans show genuine concern for and interest in the well-being of those around them.

It can take 30 minutes to walk someplace that would normally take 10 minutes because so many people want to stop and chat.

A village mentality prevails, and one cannot help but feel a sense of connection that can be missed from daily life in the States.

Back home, we put ourselves in these separate boxes.

Drive in separate boxes.

Work in separate boxes.

In our society, it becomes so easy to feel isolated and disconnected.

Community is a powerful idea, and so much of its strength is driven by these small, seemingly simple, social interactions.

This goes a long way to explaining why so many Africans seem so happy in spite of some of the tougher living conditions.

Learn to love a continent of contrasts

It goes without saying that traveling, or doing just about anything, is not easy in East Africa.

Yet at the same time, it is usually worth the hassle.

For many, summiting Mt. Kilimanjaro can be one of the hardest feats of their lives.

Seeing the sunrise from the “rooftop of Africa” can also be one of the most rewarding.

summiting Mt. Kilimanjaro

The East African people are a contrast in and of themselves.

There are so many people with their hands out, asking foreigners for something or trying to hustle them into buying something.

Meanwhile, if a traveler is truly in need, East Africans typically demonstrate incredible kindness and accommodation.

The challenges are plentiful, but when approaching East Africa with an open mind and open heart the rewards can be abundant and everlasting.

Trips Where The Journey IS The Destination

We have all heard the famous quote/cliché “it’s not about the destination, it’s about the journey” which has been twisted and reworded in a thousand ways – and many of us would agree.

Here are some trips where the transport and the journey really is the destination…

Vintage Luxury On A Train

There is something special about train travel, something which we personally prefer over any other type of transport.

You can sit for hours on end just enjoying the views from the window – but with the Orient Express trains, train travel takes on a different twist.

Their luxury trains are far from the normal trains people take; you’ve got entertainment, glamorous bar cars, 5-star cuisine served in the dining cars, an observation deck and more – for us it was one of the most luxurious journeys we’ve ever made.

Take The Bus Through Paradise

One of the most beautiful bus journeys we’ve ever made was to the Milford Sounds in New Zealand – the purpose of the journey is to take a cruise on the Milford Sounds, but to get there from Queenstown takes 8 hours, which is a very long journey.

On the plus side, the bus travels through some of the most amazing landscapes of the country, and stops in several places so you can get off, take short walks in the forests and enjoy the scenery.

The trip is cheap so it’s definitely doable for budget travelers.

South Africa By River & Rail

With Marco Polo Club you get to travel through Botswana, Zambia and South Africa, discovering their many wonders in very different ways; a houseboat, a 4×4 vehicle, on foot, from above in a helicopter and on a luxury vintage train..!

With so many different types of transport, you really get to see these countries from completely different perspectives.

Imagine waking up on a house boat and spend your breakfast watching the scenery going past you on the Chobe River.

The Longest Railway In The World

Traveling on the Trans-Siberian railway is among the most common dreams on peoples’ bucket lists, including ours.

This has to be one of the most adventurous train journeys in the world, but I don’t know if I would be able to handle traveling the entire length of it, but I would definitely take it for 5 days or so.

Taking this trip is not the same as the pre-organized tours on the Orient Express.

This involves a lot of planning on your own, especially if you plan to get off at different stops along the way.

Mekong River Cruising

During your river cruise, fascinating lectures will be given by historians and local guides.

Gain insight into the Angkor period of Cambodia, as well as the harsh regime of the Khmer Rouge.

Learn about local customs and discover the history behind the Vietnam War.

By night, the Saigon Lounge becomes a musical theater presenting a program of the local cultures.

Many of the musical evenings are interactive.

Learning about traditions and local customs will undoubtedly enhance your appreciation of the places you are visiting.

You can also experience entertainment at sea aboard Pacific Jewel Cruises that you never thought possible – the dazzling selection available to you will no doubt become one of the most memorable occasions of your cruise experience.

What is your favorite trip when the journey is the highlight?

Tips Before You Leave to Go Abroad on Your Adventure

Traveling to foreign lands is an adventure.

It’s a wonderful way to broaden life experience, and sample a taste of what it’s like to live in distant places.

It can also be a major strategic undertaking that’s rife with risks and pitfalls.

In order to avoid these, keep these tips before you leave to go abroad in mind.

Nothing is worse than getting sick in the midst of travel, and it’s a particularly trying experience when you’re visiting a foreign country.

Visit your doctor for a thorough checkup, making certain that you’re up to date on vaccinations.